Andrea Gylthe
Op-Ed 11/11/20

Shutting down gyms due to COVID-19 is threatening a whole industry and is possibly costing more lives than its saving

Since the initial shutdowns in March 2020, the fitness industry has taken a disproportionately greater financial hit. Many gyms and fitness clubs remain closed, threatening the entire industry’s existence. According to Fox Business, it’s estimated that 280,500 employees in this sector could be unemployed soon. Equally troubling, the health of millions of Americans is in jeopardy as we experience perhaps the greatest one-year decline in physical and mental health for generations.

Keeping gyms and fitness clubs closed puts lives at stake. This industry improves the physical and mental health of millions of Americans every day, Serving more than 64.2 million people according to Statista. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that people: “staying physically active for about 150 minutes a week have a 33% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who are physically inactive,” gyms and fitness clubs serve as first responders in public health.

They serve this purpose by providing a place for people to improve their physical and mental health, through producing Endorphins, a polypeptide naturally made in the body when exercising. It is known to increase happiness as well as reduce levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of deaths in the U.S. every year. Neglecting these facts, and the impact gyms can hold on people’s mental health can have detrimental consequences. As exercising is proven to prevent depression, gyms and fitness clubs should be considered essential businesses, as they can contribute to preventing deaths caused by both decayed physical health and mental health. Lowering the overall health of people in the population leads to lower job effectiveness and achievements, higher rates of sickness among its workers, which ultimately leads to more sick days. This is paid by either the business or the state, depending on the severity, and costs businesses and society colossal numbers every year. Considering the mental and physical health aspects that improve through time spent in the gym, we are taking more lives than we are saving by maintaining the current regulations.

The vast majority of members of gyms and fitness clubs feel a sense of belonging to a community, an important part to fulfill our basic needs as humans of having intimate personal relationships and friends. According to Planet Fitness, the sense of community
will likely improve “your fitness levels” which is exactly “why many gyms bring members together through special interest groups such as running clubs and multi-person training sessions.” This is also an essential part of the industry’s strategy to get members to return. Both members and professionals at these businesses need these relationships. And that is only looking at it from a health perspective.

The industry additionally operates as a crucial employer, employing as many as 782,952 people according to IBISWorld. These employees and businesses contributed more than $35 billion to the American economy last year, based on numbers provided in the “Industry Report” conducted by Wellness Creative Co. Exposing the major tax revenues and jobs that are at risk if the industry goes under.

From a financial perspective, the direct loss of revenue and employment are not the only areas of concern here. The supplement and apparel sales are looking at a tremendous economic loss. The fitness industry affects other major industries such as the fashion industry in terms of apparel design, production, and distribution. If these sales decline, even more jobs are at stake. The contributions that the fitness industry brings, not only to the U.S. economy but also through improved health display exactly why they shouldn’t remain closed. Gyms can reopen with measures in place to limit the spread of the virus. Doing so will not only save a whole industry but potentially a great number of lives.