A zumba session. Dance workouts are among recent crazes in the fitness industry. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
The level of health awareness is increasing among Kenyans and many people are trying to incorporate exercise and good diet into their daily living.
In the past group fitness has been popular with women, but it is slowly catching on with the men.
But even with gyms, weight loss centres and quick fixes popping up all across town, the waistline is still expanding. In the last three years, the country has seen the entry and expansion of fast food and restaurant chains.
As the early morning chill begins to lift, a group of about 30 people stands at an open field in Karura forest exchanging niceties and quiet banter.
Before long, the smiles are replaced by grim lines, brows furrowed in concentration and breathless pants as they go through a taxing workout. The group has come in for the monthly wellness boot camp organised by Japheth Amimo and his team.
Across town at the Southern Sun Mayfair Hotel gym, Michael Bondo is busy taking his class through the latest dance craze to hit Kenya — Zumba. The dance fitness instructor has been teaching dance for the past seven years and has seen his class size triple in the last three.
These are just but two of the professionals that have been cashing in on the increasing demand for fitness solutions over the last few years.
As more people become increasingly sedentary, the average waistline has been increasing. In 2009 the obese population in Kenya was at a mere nine per cent of the population.
Now, about three years down the line 20 per cent of Kenyans are obese. If the trend continues, by 2020 the obesity rate in Kenya will be similar to the American and European rates of 50 and 60 per cent.
Obesity is now considered a disease. The glaring statistics from the World Health Organisation are an indicator of the extent to which lifestyle and lifespan are interconnected.
Global deaths
According to WHO, being overweight or obese is the fifth leading risk for global deaths. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
In addition, 44 per cent of the diabetes burden, 23 per cent of the ischaemic heart disease burden (reduced blood supply to the heart due to clogged arteries) and between seven per cent and 41 per cent of certain cancer burdens are attributable to obesity.
The level of health awareness is increasing among Kenyans and many people are trying to incorporate exercise and good diet into their daily living, creating jobs for people like Mr Amimo and Mr Bondo.
Also as one leafs through local dailies and magazines, the property advertisements have every new apartment block touting additional features like swimming pools, gyms and fitness centres.
Companies have not been left behind with BAT, Safaricom and Google, among others having fully-equipped gyms within their premises. Those in the fitness business are cashing in.
Mr Amimo, the 43-year-old proprietor of Wellness Solutions, chose to try his hand in the fitness and wellness business leaving the comfort of an assured monthly pay check.
Having worked as a fitness consultant, he realised that more and more people were seeking solutions for weight loss and more companies were willing to spend on the wellness for their staff.
He says has no regrets leaving employment as his business has been gaining traction over the past year.
Sonia Massioui, proprietor of Power Vibe Studio in Westlands that provides fitness and nutrition services, can attest to the growing demand the services.
She has had to increase her operating hours, opening from 6.30am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday and plans to open even earlier due to early morning clients.
The business has been lucrative with local clients and expatriates purchasing fitness packages.
Ms Massioui’s studio is fitted with Power Plate machines, a brain child of Dutch Olympic trainer Guus van de Meer, which use vibration technology for workouts.
Nutrition services
In the past group fitness has been popular with women, but it is slowly catching on with the men. When Power Vibe Studio begun its operations, there were only two men who attended the sessions. Today 37 per cent of their clients are male.
But even with gyms, weight loss centres and quick fixes popping up all across town, the waistline is still expanding.
“Even with the fitness industry growing, the fast food business is still growing at a much faster rate,” notes Mr Amimo.
In the last three years, the country has seen the entry and expansion of fast food and restaurant chains like KFC which opened shop in 2011, Java that has opened new outlets across the city, and the Innscor chain that has expanded its reach with more than a dozen new stores.
The increasing numbers of excessive weight have been attributed to the increased availability of fast food and reduced activity.
“Most people are driving; not enough people are walking or exercising. They are aware of this but they are not really bothered,” says Mr Amimo who is targeting clients aged between 35 and 50 years.
He says at that age, the clients are usually more conscious of their lifestyle and have more expendable income to invest than that their younger counterparts.
“In terms of health and wellness, the younger generation is still finding themselves and jobs, so unless they are earning from it, they do not really engage in wellness,” he explains.
Metabolic rates
Nutritionists are also beneficiaries with each health and fitness club having an in-house nutritionist to supplement the workout programme.
“You should understand your body type and metabolism for they will determine a workout for you,” says Mr Bondo.
“Dietary needs are different for each person,” adds Ms Massioui. She has a full time nutritionist and dietician at her studio.
Weight loss is the main reason most people visit health clubs, but global trends also play a role.
“Power Plate is famous because of the different celebrities who have used it,” says Ms Massioui.
Mr Bondo says some of his students attend his classes because they heard that it is the latest workout to hit the market or a certain celebrity is doing it.
“People come to the gym every day and once they meet their goal, they disappear,” says he.
A myriad of issues drive people to his doors — from health goals, doctors orders, weight loss, peer pressure, stress relief or as a socialising place.
The industry has morphed from gym and aerobics to dance workouts.
“The boot camp was a new concept and it has picked up very well,” says Mr Amimo.
Consistency of clients is the most challenging aspect of this business.
“People come in expecting to shed off the weight instantly. When they come in for two sessions without visible results, they stop coming for class,” says Mr Bondo.
As trends in business go, fitness experts also experience high and low seasons. During the holidays — August, April and December — the number of clients reduces and with the New Year and post-holiday resolutions, the clients increase.
But the proprietors are not complaining as their business gains traction with more people seeking alternatives for their fitness needs.
