Death of New Year's Fitness Resolutions: Most Countries Don't Follow Through, But A Select Few Do
Endomondo Social Fitness Community Shows More Activity in US, Norway, Spain and Poland While Many More Countries Have Drop-Off in January
SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To learn if people followed through on New Year's workout resolutions and if exercise continued during colder months, developers of the Endomondo Sports Tracker mobile app and social fitness network looked at user activity from Dec. 2012 through the third week of March 2013. While usage dropped in many countries, the percent decrease was noteworthy, as well as the fact that some regions actually boosted exercise beyond the first half of January.
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Countries that showed increased physical activity at the beginning of the year included the United States (+15 percent), Spain (+21 percent), and Norway (+10 percent). Countries showing decreased exercise included the Netherlands (-22 percent), France (-19 percent), Denmark (-18 percent), Germany (-16 percent), Sweden (-15 percent), and the United Kingdom (-14 percent). As February began, many countries countered the negative trend with only users in Denmark, Germany, France and the United Kingdom still showing a decrease in physical pursuits.
As a baseline, Endomondo selected the week of Dec. 11, 2012, to begin reviewing workouts tracked. In December, a traditional uptrend was witnessed that correlates with people receiving mobile devices as holiday gifts and exploring ways to use new gadgets, along with those deploying technology for fitness resolutions. Unanticipated were results showing a nearly 100 percent activity jump in certain countries. But to no surprise, apathy set in and usage dropped. However, the decrease was not what was expected, and some countries viewed as lethargic actually continued activity growth.
Mette Lykke, an Endomondo co-founder, found the results interesting. First, she noted winter weather was not necessarily a determining factor in user activity. Second, some countries conventionally considered physically vigorous decreased workout activity while others not associated with a fit lifestyle increased exercise. Knowing that seasonal, social and economic factors could impact results in a myriad of ways, Endomondo is considering partnerships with universities or health/fitness organizations for further study.
"This was the first time Endomondo analyzed usage focusing on New Year's resolutions," Lykke said. "Endomondo will continue similar analysis annually in hopes of finding ways to better support users."
The Endomondo New Year's 2013 Statistical Report and additional background can be found at http://blog.endomondo.com/press/ .
About Endomondo:
With nearly 15 million users joining since launch in 2008, Endomondo remains a highly rated, free mobile app turning GPS-enabled smartphones into personal trainers and social motivators capable of tracking workouts and analyzing performance. Endomondo stands apart from other activity tracking apps in its strong focus on social interaction that helps users connect with like-minded people and encourages support in achieving collective goals. Users can send friends real-time pep talks while they exercise, compete against one another, and share it all across social networks.
Media Contact:
Jim Llewellyn, for Endomondo
[email protected], 323.810.7685
SOURCE Endomondo
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