Boot camp workouts are gaining popularity around the country for their blend of an intense time-efficient workout, group camaraderie and effectiveness.

The military-style program — a circuit of drills ranging from running and jumping jacks to push-ups, squats and sit-ups — appeals to people with busy schedules who need to pack a hard workout into a quick hour.

Gyms are increasingly offering the program as boot camp sessions gain national exposure on makeover television shows. Many boot camps in Southern California are taught at parks and beaches by former soldiers.

(CNN)

Aerobic exercise stimulates genes in the body to produce new blood vessels that allow more oxygen to reach muscles, increasing their effectiveness.

A new study has shown that in some people, this genetic switch may never be triggered - limiting their benefits from aerobic exercise.

“Our study introduces a new complication — that is, it is possible that some people can’t benefit from exercise as much as others, and these people may ultimately be at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” Timmons, a scientist at the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, told Discovery News.

He added, “On a practical level, the low responders may simply have to invest much more time and effort training to gain the same benefits. This last point is, however, only speculation. The low-responders may always remain low-responders.”

(Discovery.com)

People over 55 now represent 25 percent of all health club members and experts believe that number could go even higher as the baby boomers continue to age.

Marketing to those boomers can be a bit tricky for gyms used to dealing with younger generations.

At age 65, Lillian Doran knows what she doesn’t want from a gym. “I don’t want a place that just caters to the young and thin,” she said. “I don’t want to be around these babies who are a size 2.”

Doran, a petite, fit-looking woman herself, wants a place that makes people her age feel comfortable _ and these days, that’s not so hard to find.

Bally Total Fitness is launching its “Build Your Own Membership” plan which is aimed primarily at baby boomers.

“We’re moving away from that ad that only shows young, beautiful people with a Greek-god physique,” said Jim McDonald, the company’s chief marketing officer.

While seeking to lure boomers, the “Build Your Own” campaign features people from a variety of demographics and is careful not to alienate Bally’s younger members.

The growing population of older American’s has helped propel new gym concepts like “Curves for Women” for which there are now nearly 8,000 locations in the U.S. (Washington Post)

Sir Richard Branson has taken control of the fast-growing British fitness chain, Virgin Active after buying out existing investors for $236 million.

Experts believe Branson intends to expand the chain into France and India.

“We now wish to take the concept to a wider global market and as part of that process offered to buy out Bridgepoint. I would like to thank them for their support over the last three years.”

Bridgepoint is believed to have trebled its money on the Virgin Active investment, having already refinanced most of the debt it raised to back its acquisition and fund expansion.

Source.

On Monday, Swedish researchers reported that exercising at least twice a week can cut the chances of Alzheimer’s by 60 percent.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden randomly selected 1449 people between the ages of 65 and 79 who had been previously surveyed about their leisure-time physical activity. Original surveys were done in 1972, 1977, 1982, and 1987. Once resurveyed, the researchers found that those who exercised at least twice a week had a 60 percent lower chance of Alzheimer’s than the sedentary group.

Dr Kivipelto states: “These findings may have wide implications for preventive healthcare; if an individual adopts an active lifestyle in youth and at midlife, this may increase their probability of enjoying both physically and cognitively vital years later in life¨.

Source.