Three related 2026 studies from UK researchers (including University of Oxford and University of Greenwich) showed that regular sauna use was linked to improved physical and mental wellbeing in UK users. Weekly sauna use—but not monthly—predicted higher physical wellbeing, while monthly use was linked to higher mental wellbeing, weekly sessions showed a bigger impact. Key finding: the social connection and ritual aspects of sauna-going may be as…
Social Prescribing Rises Globally—From Art Classes to Walking Clubs By Thierry Malleret, economist Social prescribing is a much broader and inclusive form of wellness. The more digital- and AI-driven the world becomes, the greater our need for in-person interactions. Increasingly, doctors are prescribing social activities as different as art studios, choirs or walking clubs to their patients to improve their mental and physical health. The UK, with its National Academy for Social Prescribing, is ahead of the…
Wellness Real Estate Case Study: The Spine, Liverpool, United Kingdom The Spine is a 14-story, state-of-the-art, healthy and sustainable office building, specially designed to serve as the new northern headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Located near Liverpool’s city center, the building is a flagship project within the first phase of the Liverpool Knowledge Quarter’s Paddington Village development—a $1.26 billion (£1b) initiative to create a 30-acre urban village and…
Four wellness sectors are responsible for much of the wellness economy growth in the largest and fastest-growing markets GWI’s recent Country Rankings report is packed with data on the wellness markets of 145 countries and examines which markets have been growing the fastest. One interesting finding: four wellness sectors have been responsible for most of the wellness economy growth from 2019 to 2024, across all the fastest-growing country markets. Download…
The Picket Fence Concept Home Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States The Picket Fence is a “concept home” constructed on a narrow urban infill lot in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using consumer insights from the America at Home Study. The project was launched to inspire new ways that builders and architects can work together to create healthy and sustainable homes using design innovations and system-built construction solutions, while maintaining…
As Democracy Recedes Globally, What’s the Impact on Wellbeing? By Thierry Malleret, economist Worldwide, democracy is receding to its lowest levels since the mid-70s, with many countries “autocratizing” at the same time. According to The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at Sweden’s Gothenburg University, a record 41% (3.4 billion) of the world’s population currently live in countries where democracy is deteriorating. Should this be of…
