The poll, of 2,000 active adults, found the practice of ‘bum sunbathing’, which apparently increases energy, and 'wellness vaping' which claims to deliver vitamins and supplements directly to your lungs for quicker absorption, have left exercise-goers the most baffled this year. Other confusing crazes include yoga with animals, as well as ear candling, which is alleged to suck out toxins and earwax. Gen Z are the quickest to try their hand at a wacky trend, with 38% admitting they’ve tried a new one this year, compared to only 16% of Millennials and 2% of Gen X.
The average person has tried at least three different wellness trends in their lifetime - with the main motivators being wanting to improve wellbeing (44%), their current routine not giving them the desired outcome (30%) or seeing celebs and influencers try them (30%). However, in a bid to get healthy, almost a third (31%) had invested in fitness equipment which was trendy at the time, but no longer use it at all. The research, by Virgin Active, found adults are bombarded with more than four fitness-related posts on social media a day - with the main culprits being Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The sheer amount of social media posts about wellness trends left almost half (48%) confused, and not sure where to turn to for real information which works. And half said they had seen fitness and nutrition trends which contradict advice they’d seen previously. Donna Collins, head of product at Virgin Active, said: .