Chinese have been increasingly interested in health and fitness. (Photo : Reuters)
Regardless of age groups, more and more people in China are joining the fitness craze. Grannies sweating it out in public parks and the young frequenting the gym are now common scenes in the country.
Over the past two years, the number of gym attendees all over the country has increased by four to five million per year since 2011.
One such example is 29-year-old Zhang Jianming, who works as a research fellow at Suzhou Industrial Park in East China. A fitness fanatic, he works out five to six days a week and focuses on different body parts. Since beginning his workout regimen back in 2013, his training program has resulted in a 23-percent decrease in body fat percentage. Hour-long lifting or bodyweight exercises and a 30-minute cardio workout have helped him transform his body into a stronger and bulkier one, which boosted his self-confidence.
The rise in the number of fitness enthusiasts in the country can be attributed to the nation's growing interest in fitness and health, which, in turn, was sparked by the growing middle class' desire to live a balanced and healthier lifestyle.
China's wealth continues to accumulate as the country's GDP per capita exceeded $5,000 in 2011 and hit $7,575 in 2014.
According to Liu Wing, China Association of Sport Industry's deputy secretary-general, public awareness of health begins when a country's GDP per capita increases to $5,000. The fitness industry will become a pillar in the national economy if it goes well beyond the $8,000 mark.
The fitness trend also coincides with the booming mobile Internet and social media industry in the country. Younger gymrats use such platforms to look for better ways, such as workout tips and dietary instructions to keep fit.
The fitness industry also has huge market potential, according to Wang Yin, a fitness guru and blogger. In 2014, he launched Fit-start, which produces mobile apps that cater to fitness-minded individuals by offering tailor-made workout and dietary plans. Several other entrepreneurs have also followed suit, making the market quite crowded.
"This is a budding industry. The market is huge, and there is no dominant player at the moment, which means everything is possible," said Wang.
