Most people who resolved to exercise more in 2017 have given up already or are on the verge of doing so. New research suggests joining a gym could prevent that fate.
“It’s not surprising that people with a gym membership work out more, but the difference in our results is pretty dramatic,” says Duck-chul (DC) Lee, an assistant professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University.
“Gym members were 14 times more aerobically active than non-members and 10 times more likely to meet muscle-strengthening guidelines, regardless of their age and weight.” The results were similar in both men and women.
Lee, corresponding author of the paper in PLOS ONE, says the study found people who belonged to a health club not only exercised more—for both aerobic activity and strength training—but also had better cardiovascular health outcomes. Those health benefits were even greater for people who had a gym membership for more than a year, Lee says.
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It’s recommended that adults get 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking or running. The Physical Activity Guidelines also suggest two days of weight lifting or other muscle-strengthening activities. Despite strong evidence of the health benefits, only half of Americans are getting enough aerobic activity and about 20 percent meet the guidelines for strength training.
The researchers found 75 percent of study participants with gym memberships, compared to 18 percent of non-members, met the guidelines for both types of activity. In fact, the majority of those who went to a health club exceeded standards and spent 300 minutes or more running, biking, or doing some type of cardio workout each week. That adds up to nearly six hours of additional activity, compared to non-members.
Gym membership perks
Gym members overall had a more active lifestyle. Researchers say members were just as active outside the gym and in their daily lives, which combined contributed to better health outcomes. Here are a few of the results for members:
- Lower odds of being obese: weight loss is a main reason for joining a gym
- Smaller waist circumference: about 1.5 inches less for men and a similar trend for women
- Lower resting heart rate: about five beats lower than non-members
- Higher cardiorespiratory fitness: this measures heart strength, lung function, blood circulation, and muscle mass
Elizabeth Schroeder, lead author and a former Iowa State graduate student, says while most people join a gym to lose weight, the research shows the many benefits of exercise.
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“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for individuals in the US. As our paper shows, a health club membership is associated with more favorable cardiovascular health,” Schroeder says. “I hope the results help people be more active, potentially at a health club where they can easily perform resistance exercise, and see that exercise may help prevent cardiovascular disease.”
This is also one of the first studies to measure weight lifting and resistance exercise. Lee says this type of activity is beneficial because it builds muscle mass, which burns more energy and lowers the risk of obesity and the risk of sarcopenia for older adults.
Find the right facility
Researchers did not ask participants if they spend time at the gym running on a treadmill, riding a bike, attending a group fitness class, or other activity. However, Warren Franke, a coauthor and professor of kinesiology, says health clubs offer a variety of options and benefits for people who are new to exercise.
“By joining a quality fitness facility, a new exerciser will be around like-minded people and have access to professionals who can help them be successful,” says Franke, director of Iowa State’s Exercise Clinic. “Access to quality exercise equipment, social support, and even the financial commitment may help spur someone to continue exercising. Not all facilities are the same, so it’s important to find the ‘right’ fit.”
The researchers say it’s important to note that some data for the study were collected while people were at the gym, which would exclude people who have a membership, but are not using it. It is also a cross-sectional study, so researchers cannot directly state a cause and effect.
Source: Iowa State University
