By Jak Phillips, Les Mills
‘“When can we get back to normal?” It’s been the perennial question of recent months, particularly when it comes to our workouts.
In the wake of a global health pandemic, easing back into our usual fitness routines can pose a range of challenges, as well as uncertainties around which activities are safe to do and when.
But one thing we can say with certainty is that continued physical inactivity will bring catastrophic consequences for our physical and mental health, not to mention that of the economy and environment. In the US alone, chronic diseases that can be prevented by regular exercise are projected to cost US$42 trillion between 2016 and 2030. Meanwhile, a recent McKinsey study found the economic impact of better health among the world’s population could add US$12 trillion to global GDP in 2040 – an 8 percent boost. Investing in this area now could help kickstart our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we’ve previously reported, exercise in pill-form would be hailed as a wonder drug. It truly is the best medicine, with the power to improve everything from general wellbeing to musculoskeletal disease to cardiovascular problems, cancers, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, mental health, anxiety, and depression.”‘