Social Prescribing Rises Globally—From Art Classes to Walking Clubs 

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, UK

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

  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…

Wellness Real Estate Case Study: The Picket Fence Concept Home

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?

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…

Strong Muscles Linked to Significantly Longer Lives for Women

A large study (2026) in JAMA Network (on 5,472 women aged 63 to 99 years) found that muscle strength was associated with significantly lower mortality risk in women—even for those not meeting guideline-recommended activity levels. The researchers noted that the findings were a surprise, as strength in older women turned out to be a key—and unique—factor in longevity, reducing the risk for early death by a third…