In the most comprehensive review (2023) of global studies to date (1,097 trials, 128,000+ participants), University of South Australia researchers found that exercise should be the “first choice treatment” for depression, anxiety and psychological distress, as it improves symptoms 1.5 times better than both leading medications and talk therapy. Every type of exercise—from walking to resistance training to yoga—proved beneficial. The benefits were seen in every…
The “Premiumization” of the Wellness Market: A Worrisome Trend By Thierry Malleret, economist Rich economies are now gentrifying as businesses narrow their focus on the wealthiest consumers: doubling down on premium, exclusive goods and experiences for high-end customers with stripped-down offerings for the rest. The wellness economy is at the forefront of this new gentrification. Whether it’s pricey new fitness clubs, wellness resorts, or well-tech,…
2023 World Happiness Report released: Finland the happiest nation again and global benevolence is rising– CNN, March 20, 2023 There’s cause for optimism in the latest report on world happiness: benevolence is about 25% higher than it was pre-pandemic and global happiness has not taken a hit in the three years of the pandemic. For the sixth year in a row, Finland is the world’s happiest…
Europe Turned an Energy Crisis into a Green Energy Sprint– The New York Times, Feb. 15, 2023 The energy crisis unleashed by Russia’s war did create big problems, but the worst did not materialize. Instead, the EU succeeded not only in averting a major crisis, but also in “turbocharging the green transition,” to an extent that has knocked a full decade off its decarbonization timeline. In…
A new study from Stanford University compared different stress reduction techniques (each was done five minutes a day for a month): mindfulness meditation and three types of breathwork (cyclic sighing, with its greater focus on exhaling; box breathing, where inhaling and holding are done for an equal time; and one focusing on longer inhalation). They found that all three types of breathwork had a faster,…
Aging Consumers Will Soon Be the Top Market for Every Wellness Sector By Thierry Malleret, economist For those wellness industry entrepreneurs and practitioners who take a somewhat longer-term view, demographics is about to bring momentous changes. Globally, a fast-growing aging population is going to make the wellness “imperative” ever more pressing. In the next 15-20 years, the global population aged 65 and over will increase…
