{"id":33953,"date":"2017-02-01T13:00:10","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T21:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=33953"},"modified":"2018-01-05T12:37:58","modified_gmt":"2018-01-05T20:37:58","slug":"gym-memberships-can-improve-physical-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/gym-memberships-can-improve-physical-and-mental-health-0201172","title":{"rendered":"Gym Memberships Can Improve Physical and Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GroupGyms are most crowded from January to March, when people may join to fulfill New Year\u2019s resolutions. Research from Iowa State University published in the journal PLOS ONE<\/em> suggests joining a gym can increase the likelihood of achieving fitness goals. The findings showed gym members were significantly more active than non-members.<\/p>\n

Gym Memberships Increase Activity Levels<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Researchers compared data on 204 gym members to 201 non-members from April-August 2013. Participants answered questions about exercise both in and outside of the gym, and provided measures of blood pressure, waist circumference, resting heart rate, and other measures of fitness.<\/p>\n

Gym members got 14 times more aerobic exercise than non-gym members, and were 10 times more likely to meet guidelines for muscle-strengthening activities. Seventy-five percent of gym members met physical fitness guidelines, which recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week. Only 18% of non-members met these fitness goals. People with gym memberships also had smaller waist circumferences and better cardiorespiratory fitness than non-members.<\/p>\n

Fitness and Mental Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A large body of research supports the link between physical activity and mental health. Highlights include:

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