The risk management methods adopted in fitness centres : a local study

Abstract

Newman (2021) defines fitness as being able to carry out daily activities with a level of strength and stamina as well as reduce the amount of time spent in a sedentary state. This definition also incorporates the ability one must possess to manage illnesses, weariness, and stress. Mion (2017) describes a fitness centre to be “a health, recreational, and social facility geared towards exercise, sports, and other physical activities”. Fitness has grown in importance due to the increasing problem of obesity. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2021), obesity has been on the rise and has tripled since 1975. The main problem with having an obese population is that this impairs one’s health due to its high association with chronic diseases, such as high cholesterol and diabetes which significantly decrease life expectancy (OECD 2019). Obesity can be attributed to various factors including malnutrition, increase in ‘fatty’ foods due to the ever increase fast food chains which in turn increases access to such good, which are also high in sugar, and to a more sedentary lifestyle due to the change in jobs around the world. All these factors are controllable and therefore, their effect can be reduced. Therefore, one can make the argument that obesity is preventable (WHO 2021). A case in which fitness was used to control obesity and restructure the lifestyle of citizens was in Japan. According to Andreasson and Johansson (2014), the book named ‘Aerobics’ by Kenneth. H. Cooper was used as the cornerstone of the foundation and increase in fitness centres in Japan. Although this was the American style of training, the concept was adapted to the Japanese culture and the fitness centres served a broader purpose of leisure and relaxation (Andreasson and Johansson 2014). Data shows that gym memberships, attendance and the number of fitness and wellness centres have been on the rise. In America, there was a 9.4% increase in frequency of the aforementioned facilities in 2019 when compared to 2018 (Rizzo 2021). Rizzo (2021) also explains that in 2019, there was a 45% increase in gym attendance in comparison to 2010. In fact, in 2019, a quarter of Americans attended a gym. This stands to show how important physical activity has become over the years. The same advancements which, as a by-product, increased obesity, also caused the fitness industry to grow. Technological advancements increase the need for more sedentary jobs such as IT experts. However, this also made way for new fitness products such as the Peloton bikes which allow users to download classes from the comfort of their own living room (Porter 2021).