History of Fitness in the US.

The evolution of fitness can be traced back to early mankind when fitness was part of survival.

The hunters and gatherers of primitive ages needed to be fit to obtain food and water. Survival skills required a lot of physical activity and traveling to neighboring celebrations could require long trips on foot.

The invention of the plow and various other agricultural machines meant less exercise for man. This may have been the beginning of a less fit population. 

In ancient civilization (2500-250 B.C.), the philosophical teachings of Confucius associated certain diseases with physical inactivity. During this period yoga was developed in India.

In 4000-250 B.C., there was a strong demand for physical ability related to the military. People's physical ability was directly related to the performance of the military. The Spartans were a good example of an empire that emphasized fitness ability. Sparta actually was one of the most physically fit societies in history.

In ancient Greece (2500-200 B.C.), working to be healthy was a way of developing the mind. This period began the gymnastics era with music and included exercise for the body and music for the soul.

The Romans (200 B.C.-476 A.D.) were similar to the Spartans and regarded a high level of fitness as part of their military service. As the Roman civilization began getting more lavish, the population's fitness level declined.

The Renaissance Period created a physique image of the Greeks. Good health and fitness were associated with intelligence.

In Germany (1700-1850), German gymnastics was thought to help build a strong nation and decrease the vulnerability against foreign invasion.

In England, Archibals Maclaren, a medical student, promoted the idea that the cure for stress and fatigue was physical activity. He also stated that sports alone were not enough to be fit. He also promoted the idea of progressive exercise.

The United States was influenced mainly by European cultures through German and Swedish gymnastics. The U.S. government was responsible for promoting health and fitness. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson recognized the need for fitness. President Theodore Roosevelt was perhaps the fittest president and encouraged people to be active by setting a strong example with his own fitness level.

In 1939, Joe Weider became a primary force in advancing the sport of bodybuilding. With the marketing of magazines, other publications and contests, bodybuilding has gained popularity. Weider was also the founder of the Olympia bodybuilding and fitness competitions.

In June 1956, President Eisenhower held a White House Conference aiming to promote fitness in the U.S. The Conference resulted in the formation of the President's Council of Youth Fitness. A study was performed and showed 60 percent of American children failed one of the fitness tests.

In the 1960s, John F. Kennedy was the president most involved in promoting fitness in America. He organized the President's Council on Fitness. Kennedy encouraged the government to be more involved with promoting fitness in youth.

The start of the fitness age began in the 1950s with Jack LaLanne, a media fitness instructor who developed land and water aerobics. He also developed resistance exercise and was behind the first cable-pulley machine, the "Smith machine."

In the 1960s, Dr. Ken Cooper earned the title of the father of the modern fitness movement with his philosophy to maintain good health through proper exercise and diet.

In addition to LaLanne was Lila's Yoga in the 1960s and Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons promoting fitness in the 1980s. Denise Austin promoted aerobics through the 1990s with television fitness programs and videotapes available for in-home fitness.

In 1992, Bill Phillips came out with the Body for Life program, a 90-day challenge. If a person enters the contest and follows the guidelines he has set out in his manual, results will follow, he argued. Contestants were eligible to win prizes, including trips, cash and supplements. Phillips continues to write books on health and fitness and is one of the leading suppliers of fitness supplements.

One of the largest fitness promoters is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger won seven Mr. Olympia titles. From 1990-93 he was the chairman of the President's Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. He has been very active in the formation, development and training of the International Special Olympics.

Schwarzenegger is currently the chairman for the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and is the author of numerous books on fitness and health.

To date, we have fitness infomercials available on television 24 hours a day. Thousands of in-home exercise machines, videos and equipment are available for purchase. There are an ample number of fitness centers, yoga studios, women's gyms and more to meet the busy person's lifestyle.

Unfortunately, our society is in the worse shape and people are more overweight now than at any other time in history. The rising question is, What led to this era of obesity?

Gyms across the country are offering programs for the senior population geared at the prevention of osteoporosis, express weight-training programs for people who have only a short period of time to designate to exercise, and many other classes to help keep people interested in fitness.

We do not emphasize diets but a healthy lifestyle change. We challenge people to reach their best potential fitness level. But still we can only reach the people we have direct contact with.

We all need to come together on this obesity issue. We need to start with our children and train them to lead healthier lifestyles. Then, maybe the next generation will have a chance to combat the numerous obesity related health disorders we are currently facing.