On November 5, at the Global Wellness Summit in St Andrews, Scotland, GWI researchers will unveil the 2024 Global Wellness Economy Monitor. This 100-plus page report, packed with numbers and insights, provides the new size of the world wellness market (and all of its 11 wellness sectors), has detailed regional and national data, gives industry and sector projections through 2028, and also compares the size of the wellness economy to other major industries, including consumer healthcare spend, pharma, IT, sports, and the green economy. On November 5 download your free copy HERE.
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are a remarkable example of health and tech innovation that seems to be leading to a stunning reversal in obesity rates. New data shows an unprecedented decline in obesity levels, which fell about 2 percentage points between 2020 and 2023. The new study used weight and height measurements taken by medical examiners, not self-reported values, making it far more reliable. While there isn’t absolute certainty that GLP-1s are responsible, Malleret explains why it’s highly likely. Innovation and technology did something almost “overnight” that would have taken policy and regulations decades to do. He also explains how the new drugs will change the wellness industry in far-reaching ways.
GWI’s website (www.wellnessevidence.com) is the only resource dedicated to the medical evidence for wellness approaches.
Mindfulness meditation, used for pain management in various cultures for centuries, has long been thought to work by activating the placebo response. However, a 2024 study from University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers showed that this appears not to be the case: the practice engages separate neural pathways from the well-documented “placebo effect.” The researchers used advanced brain imaging techniques to compare the pain-reducing effects of mindfulness meditation, a placebo cream, and a “sham” mindfulness meditation (deep breathing). Findings: mindfulness meditation produced significant reductions in pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings, and also reduced brain activity patterns associated with pain and negative emotions. ACCESS THIS STUDY on meditation.
Ultra-processed foods account for nearly half of calories eaten by UK toddlers, and it’s tied to poor health later in life. Source: University College London study, October 2024
