The global economy is humming along at its fastest rate since 2011. However, a fast-expanding economy is not necessarily good news for every segment of the wellness industry. For instance, companies whose cost structure is heavily dependent on labor costs (resorts, spas, hotels) will likely have their margins squeezed as the economy grows.
Diet Discrepancy between Rich and Poor Not Just Healthy Food Cost or Availability – It’s Culture
Economists have long found that a major diet discrepancy exists between rich and poor, with the former eating healthier because they buy more fruits, vegetables and proteins. Most have argued that that’s because of the cost and availability of healthy foods, but a new academic paper on nutritional inequality shows that culture and habits, especially where you live, may play a much bigger role in unhealthy eating than previously thought.
Research: The U.S. Takes a Happiness Dive
Studies consistently show that happiness has an independent and powerful impact on physical health. So, with the GWI recently launching the Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease, the organization traveled to the United Nations in NYC on March 20, to get the latest insights from the annual World Happiness Report. A couple key findings: if you’re seeking happiness, you might want to emigrate to a Nordic nation – and the U.S. has taken an “alarming” recent dive in happiness.
Study: Key to Healthy Weight Is Eating Regularly – And No Dieting!
A new, large study from the University of Helsinki, analyzing young men and women who succeeded in managing their weight over ten years, found that trying to prevent weight gain by dieting and skipping meals actually accelerated getting fatter. The study found that eating regular and sufficient meals, refraining from dieting, and finding a more general sense of meaning in life were the key to long-term successful weight management.
Global Mentorship Program Launches Updated Website & Online Application
The GWI’s Initiative, the Global Mentorship Program (GMP), pairs seasoned professionals in the wellness, spa and hospitality industries with up-and-coming leaders for six months of one-on-one mentorship. And they’ve just launched an easy web application to match mentors and mentees: https://gmpapp.org/users/sign_up.
Must-Reads from the Wellness World (Week of March 27, 2018)
“The Workplace Is Killing People and Nobody Cares” – Insights by Stanford Business, March 15, 2018
This is an interview with Jeffrey Pfeffer, the author of “Dying for a Paycheck”: a new book that examines the massive health care toll that today’s work culture exacts on employees. Pfeffer argues that the current work culture is harming both company performance and individual wellbeing. Job engagement is low; distrust in management high; and job satisfaction in continual decline. His book focuses on the U.S., but the problem is global.
