Health and Fitness Trends to Watch in 2020
Health and fitness trends change like the weather. For decades in the west, things fall into fashion and back out just as quickly. Take a look at eggs for the perfect example here. One year the news is running positive stories, doctors are calling them “incredible, edible,” then the year after they’re lampooned as a bad, cholesterol-raising food.
It just goes to show that health trends really do come and go. So, what’s on tap for 2020? While we’re still pretty fresh into this new year, the fact is that some trends are already exposing themselves with a much larger head of steam than some others. Here are a few trends you will likely see in the headlines this year.
The Health Trends That Will Sweep 2020
Americans are always on the hunt for the best ways to stay healthy and fit. When it comes to your physique and wellbeing, you should research yourself first and see a physician before starting anything new to avoid falling for popular fads and promotional hype.
With that being said, here are the trends we’re seeing pick up some serious popularity.
1: Individual Fitness
Think of this trend like the Web 2.0 generation of fitness. With a variety of sophisticated watches and step counters and home-use blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring devices, more and more people are taking it into their own hands to become fitness savvy as individuals. This not only includes those wearable gadgets but also includes a variety of apps and virtual trainers.
New players in this field include good posture devices, apps that remind you to drink enough water, and treadmill desks for the home office.
2: Group Fitness
Have you seen those Peloton commercials? This is a great example of a group workout in a virtual setting that picked up stride in 2019 and is looking to continue that trend in 2020 with more companies joining the space to offer additional choices to the end consumer.
Actual group classes are also maintaining popularity with whispers of the rowing group classes usurping spin class in popularity in 2020. We’re also seeing a fun trend in combination classes such as HIIT Yoga and Barre + Cardio classes for a well-rounded workout.
3: Better Diets
The extreme diet trends of keto, paleo and gluten free are lessening their grip on society and giving way to less extreme and more balanced diet trends. Instead of shocking the body into a state of ketosis there is more of an emphasis on terms like ‘low carb’ and ‘plant based’ to help create a balance in the body and move away from meat-centric diets. Mediterranean diets are also experiencing a revitalization as this is more of a way of eating and preparing fresh foods and sustaining long term health instead of the old-fashioned notion of being on a “diet”. Even the fast food giants are getting in on the trend by offering plant-based burgers.
Superfoods are not a fad! These special, nutrient dense foods are finally getting the star treatment they deserve. New superfoods you might hear a lot about this year are sugar kelp and chaga mushrooms.
4: Health Supplements
Every year there is a new and better supplement that hits the market with aggressive advertising that leaves us all thinking “how did I survive this long without this product?”. With so much information flooding our senses it can be hard to decide what is legit. Two of the biggest trends we saw gain footing at the end of the year with the biggest potential to grow this year are CBD products and personalized vitamin and supplement packs.
Although not new to the wellness space there is a ton of media buzz around a new generation of pre and post workout drinks and other consumables meant to deliver nutrients to the body during specific times of activity that work with the body’s chemical processes.
In Conclusion
Keep a close eye on what health and fitness leaders are recommending and rebuking – then do your own research so you can make decisions tailored just for you. Don’t fall for overcomplicated fad diets or boring exercise that isn’t right for your needs – take your health into your own hands and have a happy, healthy 2020.