A new study from Japanese researchers published in Scientific Reports found that listening to music with a groove (music that causes the sensation of wanting to move to the rhythm/beat) can significantly increase measures of executive function. This first study of its kind used both brain imaging and measured individual psychological responses to “groove music” and found that music with a groovy beat impacted cognitive…
The “Wellness Divide” between Low- and High-Income Countries Will Further Sharpen By Thierry Malleret, economist As the International Monetary Fund’s managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, just put it: the global economy is facing “a confluence of calamities.” The three main engines that drive it are sputtering simultaneously. In the European Union, because of the war and the supply shock inflicted by commodity prices; in China, because…
Looking Beyond COVID: The Shifts Ahead in the Physical Activity and Fitness Markets The GWI’s most recent research report on the global wellness economy includes a complete update on the six-sector physical activity market: fitness ($77 billion), sports and active recreation ($200 billion), mindful movement ($30 billion), fitness technology ($49.5 billion), sports and fitness equipment ($105 billion), and sports apparel and footwear ($293 billion). It…
A new metareview published in the highly-respected JAMA Psychiatry reveals that even modest exercise (less than recommended by public health guidelines) can have a major impact on mental health. Just 2.5 hours a week of brisk walking was related to a 25% lower risk of depression–and the biggest benefits were seen when moving from none to some activity (rather than moving from moderate to high…
Russia’s Aggression Stoking a Global Food Crisis and Major ‘Wellbeing Inequality’ Issue By Thierry Malleret, economist Russia’s aggression is stoking a major global food crisis which hurts disproportionately the poorest nations and the poorest people. The conflict is constraining production and supplies in the Black Sea breadbasket region (which accounts for about a quarter of all grain trades) and is wreaking havoc on food and…
Asia’s $1.5 Trillion Wellness Economy Shrank the Least During the Pandemic The GWI’s recent research report ranks 150 countries by their annual wellness spend. It also measures every global region’s spend and recent growth rates. The report finds that Asia-Pacific is the world’s largest wellness market ($1.5 trillion), followed by North America ($1.3 trillion) and Europe ($1.1 trillion). Asia’s wellness market simply has the…
