Three quarters of online consumers are likely to purchase health and fitness technology in the next 12 months, with a third of these expected to buy a smartwatch, according to new research from the organisers of global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow CES.

Weight loss apps are no more effective in helping overweight people shed pounds than a paper flier from the doctor’s office, according to a new study.

Year-round exercise could be the key to fighting asthma, with the frequency of physical activity being more important than intensity, according to new research

Is it worth trying to get your members to visit more frequently? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon considers the likely impact on retention rates based on the TRP 10,000 survey

Several international pilot studies look at the link between exercise and dementia across a lifetime

Regular exercise can help reduce hot flushes in menopausal women, and could provide a natural alternative to HRT

An in-depth study of health club retention in North America identifies the factors that spell the difference between winning and losing

Personalisation of products and services is the key to future-proofing your fitness business, says Ken Hughes of Glacier Consulting

With its use of EMS technology, just one 20-minute workout a week is all that’s needed, say the manufacturers of the miha bodytec system

Are your reception staff your most undervalued retention resource? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon investigates

Stephen Tharrett of ClubIntel shares the findings from the 2015 International Fitness Industry Trend Report

Are ‘exercise passports’ the shake-up the industry needs to improve retention and market penetration?

It’s often said that you get what you pay for, and it seems that fitness apps which cost nothing provide little more than that, according to a new study.

Saunas can aid cardiovascular health, a Finnish study shows

Is your business ready for post-demographic consumerism? Trendwatching.com explains why the old consumer models must go

Conceived by fashion designer Donna Karan, the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy programme is bringing the medical and complementary worlds together

Two studies shed light on exercise guidelines, highlighting how much activity and what intensity is best

How can member feedback be gathered and used by the fitness industry to refine its offering? Jon Nasta reports

Operators must harness the power of positive feedback to enhance their services, facilities and brands

New research from the US shows that stressful family situations can lead to obesity in children

A new study focuses on the impact exercise has on 10 sets of twins – one of them active, the other not

The key to getting your retention right starts at the first club interaction, says research from Les Mills UK

Does personal activity tracking impact on retention of gym membership? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon presents his latest research findings

Research has cast doubt on the ability of existing technology to accurately track calories burned. But does pinpoint accuracy matter?

Cardiologists who have developed a new formula to predict the likelihood of death based on a treadmill test, say fitness was the single most powerful indicator of death and survival, trumping important variables such as diabetes and family history.

Study highlights a new treadmill test that identifies a person’s risk of dying

In her IHRSA 15 keynote, psychologist Kelly McGonigal spoke about the science of willpower and how the health and fitness industry can seek to harness it

Taking regular exercise has the power to actually change our DNA, according to the latest findings by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden

As the world’s population ages, how can the wellness industry best provide for older people’s needs? Katie Barnes asks a global panel of experts

Do we need legislation to get people moving, and if so are we looking for fitness’ equivalent of the smoking ban? Kate Cracknell offers her thoughts