Hollywood and the Growth of Health and Fitness Gyms


To say that the movie business has been responsible for the growth of health and fitness gyms would be an understatement. Yet, despite the influence Hollywood has had on the fitness industry, the movie business does not always get the credit it deserves for promoting the fitness craze that begat the monstrous fitness industry that exists today.

The Early Days

The origin of health and fitness gyms is somewhat quizzical and, in some ways, it would seem that the inclusion of a significant amount of health and fitness gyms into American culture occurred despite a number of odds and obstacles. While it would seem strange that there would be resistance towards improving ones health and cardiovascular system, the concept of lifting weights in a gym was often derided in popular culture significantly prior to the 1980s. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the most famous bodybuilder in the world in the 1970s. If you watch his appearance on the 1979 police drama THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, he is portrayed as a luggish brute with limited intellect.solely because he lifts weights. Needless to say, the concept of selling weightlifting to the public was difficult and the growth of health and fitness gyms became limited.

And Then Came Conan The Barbarian

In 1982, Arnolds fortunes would change when he landed the starring role in the cult classic film CONAN THE BARBARIAN. This was the springboard film that made Arnold a major box office attraction and this attraction was, in large part, the result of his bodybuilder physique. Because of Arnolds success, many other actors began to hit the gym to develop a similar look. (Sylvester Stallone, most notably, packed on a ton of muscle mass during the same time period as well) As more and more Hollywood stars ditched the lean and mean physique look for a more massive one, the public started to clamor for an exercise program that would provide them with a similar look. This type of look, however, could not be achieved solely through diet and body weight exercises; the usage of heavy weight was critical for success and as a result a number of health and fitness gyms started to open across the fruited plain.
Today, the population takes the presence of health and fitness gyms for granted mainly because there is such a preponderance of them. However, their presence should never be taken for granted and neither should the movie industrys great contribution to the presence of gyms in the United States.