[LAP-news] Fwd: Issue No. 245: Prescribing Play
Mark Rauterkus
Mark at rauterkus.com
Tue Aug 8 20:50:41 EDT 2023
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The business of fitness & wellness
August 8th, 2023
In the game of life, play is a cheat code for health and happiness.
No Fun
Unlike previous generations, kids today are reportedly more stressed, less
physically active, and increasingly medicated.
- Nearly 30% of US teens report
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poor mental health, with 22% having seriously considered suicide.
- One in five American kids is considered obese, and 25% of children
6–17 fail to achieve 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
- Since 2017, antidepressant use among children (aged 0 to 12) and teens
(aged 13 to 19) has increased
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by 28% and 41%, respectively.
The culprit? Opinions vary, but there’s a growing consensus
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that too much screen time and social media exposure are to blame.
Whether it's curbing phone usage, training more therapists, or scaling
telehealth platforms, efforts are being made to address the problem.
But, mounting research suggests that a solution may be more obvious—and
attainable—than we think.
Born to Play
According to a recent study
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published in the Journal of Pediatrics, a childhood devoid of play is
responsible for declining well-being.
“Our thesis is that a primary cause of the rise in mental disorders is a
decline over decades in opportunities for children and teens to play, roam,
and engage in other activities independent of direct oversight and control
by adults.”
Absent a formal definition, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
describes play as “an activity that is intrinsically motivated, entails
active engagement, and results in joyful discovery.”
Whatever form it takes, from unstructured or guided activities to games or
simply exploring outdoors, play is critically important to childhood
development.
Echoing this sentiment, NYU social psychologist Jon Haidt, a leading voice
on the teen mental health crisis, said
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a lack of play is stunting today’s youth.
“In brief, it’s the transition from a play-based childhood involving a lot
of risky unsupervised play, which is essential for overcoming fear and
fragility, to a phone-based childhood which blocks normal human development
by taking time away from sleep, play, and in-person socializing…”
More than mental health alone, the benefits of play are extensive
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=6e3f110938&e=5f5826e374>,
including improvements in cognitive functioning, social development, peer
relations, and physical health.
Conversely, play deprivation is associated with an increased risk of ADHD,
depression, and obesity, among other concerns.
Play Room
Part of the problem, according to the AAP, is that modern life severely
limits play.
Combating this reality, increasing access to parks and green spaces while
limiting digital distraction and promoting physical activity will be vital
in making play a priority once again.
*Play deserts.* From densely populated urban centers like NYC
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to rural cities
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especially in the South, areas devoid of parks, trails, and sport courts
are common.
A key indicator of good health, more than 28M US children don’t have a park
within a 10-minute walk of home. Helping put an end to play deserts,
opening school playgrounds to the public when class isn’t in session would
give 5.2M
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more kids access.
*Dangerous games. *Playgrounds are good, but adventure grounds might be
better. Researchers found
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that spaces with fewer “off the shelf” components had 53% more visitors and
16–18% higher physical activity levels in kids.
Along these lines, adventure or junk playgrounds like The Yard
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on Governors Island in New York encourage risky play, which fosters
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independence, creativity, and coping skills.
*The list goes on…* Whether it's building
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more sidewalks, restoring
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recess and gym class, participating
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in sport, or designating time for nature, supporting play in all its forms
has lasting benefits throughout life.
*All grown up.* Of course, kids aren’t the only ones who need more play in
their lives. Adults who engage in play tend
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to be happier and less stressed. Plus, grandparents who regularly play with
grandkids are
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more active, healthier, and may even live longer.
*Punchline:* Children are impressionable, forming habits from the cues of
those around them. Inside, inactive, stressed out, and on screens, “kids
these days” are likely a product of modern-day adults’ lifestyles.
------------------------------
🎙 On the Podcast
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EGYM CEO Philipp Roesch-Schlanderer explains how data-driven fitness can
transform movement as medicine.
*We also cover: *building a smart fitness ecosystem, personalizing
exercise, its recent $225M investment, and US expansion.
Listen to today’s episode here
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.
------------------------------
📉 CLMBR lays off staff, shutters LA studio
Smart equipment brands are adjusting to the post-pandemic landscape.
*The latest:* Makers of a connected vertical climbing machine, CLMBR laid
off
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an unspecified number of workers this week.
Posting to LinkedIn, former employees said they were told the company was
“closing its doors.”
However, in an email to Fitt Insider, CLMBR CEO Avrum Elmakis said the
company is not closing or filing for bankruptcy. Instead, Elmakis said the
layoffs—and the decision to close its LA studio—were made to reduce costs.
While its Denver group fitness studio and HQ remain open, the company is
restructuring “in anticipation of a strategic transaction”
*For context:* Scaling during the pandemic, CLMBR raised upward of $26M
from the likes of Jay-Z, Pitbull, and Novak Djokovic.
But, as gyms reopened and consumer behavior shifted, Elmakis noted the new
market dynamics last summer, explaining how
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“everything kind of changed”:
“Markets have changed dramatically this year, certainly for everyone in our
category — Peloton and others. The hypergrowth just isn’t there right now.”
Flash-forward a year and, despite announcing its 02 machine and adding new
funding in December, the company is being forced to revise its strategy.
*Zooming out:* CLMBR joins a growing list of connected fitness companies
confronting post-pandemic headwinds. lululemon recently laid off 100
staffers
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associated with its MIRROR hardware division. Tonal saw its workforce and
valuation cut
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this spring amid slowing sales. And Peloton is attempting to engineer a
turnaround
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after cutting nearly 3K jobs.
*Takeaway:* While CLMBR’s outlook remains in flux for now, it’s clear that
exercise seekers will dictate the future of fitness — choosing from the
IRL, at-home, and on-the-go options that meet their evolving needs.
------------------------------
☀️ Outdoor recreation inspires new-age adventure lodging
In the US, outdoor recreation continues to climb.
- 168.1M people, 55%
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of the US population ages six and older, participated in outdoor recreation
last year, a 2.3% YoY gain.
- 80% of outdoor activity categories saw growth, with snowshoeing,
camping, and XC skiing becoming the top three fastest-growing.
- Running had the highest average outings per runner at 54, while the
average hiker hit the trail six times.
But, an important trend, the average number of outings declined for the
first time since the pandemic.
*What it means:* Even as Americans routinely skip vacation
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=4fbf75c6b1&e=5f5826e374>,
their appetite for outdoor recreation is fueling an $860B
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industry. So, while more people want to get outdoors, a lack of time,
motivation, and access stands in the way.
*Venture outdoors.* Catering to growing demand, outdoorsy hospitality
brands are creating a front door to the frontier, delivering accommodations
that range from mountain lodges to off-grid retreats to extreme sports
social clubs
- Microhotel operators Field Station and LOGE are scaling up locations
that combine affordable lodging, community events, guided experiences, and
gear rentals.
- Gravity Haus, operator of six members-only clubs that combine lodging,
fitness, coworking, and mountain sports, secured financing to expand beyond
CO and CA.
- This January, Starwood Capital and AJ Capital launched Field & Stream
Lodge Co., planning 20 to 25 outdoors lifestyle hotels near America’s
national parks.
Another approach, tiny cabin retreat operators Getaway, Raus, and Unyoked
are raising capital and expanding to make camping more accessible.
Meanwhile, Choice Hotels’ wellness-inspired unit Sleep Inn partnered with
AllTrails to give guests access to the trail discovery platform’s premium
features during their stays.
*Takeaway:* For many Americans, the daily grind offers few of the rewards
found in the great outdoors. To get more people outside more often, it
helps if casual recreationalists feel comfortable there.
------------------------------
📰 News & Notes
- Therabody introduces
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portable contrast therapy device.
- Boutique combat studio BXNG Club
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=5f9912f604&e=5f5826e374>
expands up Cali coast.
- Fitt Jobs: Break into or level up
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in the health & fitness industry.
- 24 Hour Fitness launches recovery-focused clubs
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in California.
- Movano’s Evie Ring undergoes
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FDA clearance as medical device.
- Reed Jobs leads
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$200M+ fund with goal of making cancer non-lethal.
- KickHouse CEO teams
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with equipment maker Stroops on boutique strength concept.
- Calm adds
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Disney meditation content to tackle back-to-school anxiety in kids,
families.
------------------------------
💰 Money Moves
*Epiterna*, a Swiss longevity platform for pets and people, added €10M
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($11M) from Daniel Ek-founded investment firm *Prima* *Materia*.
*The National Cycling League*, a cycling race series, added
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undisclosed investment from Kevin Durant’s *Boardroom* *Sports* *Holdings*.
*Ozlo Sleep*, maker of sleep-supporting earbuds, emerged from stealth after
a $10M
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Series A.
*More from Fitt Insider:* *The $500B Sleep Economy*
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VR treadmill developer *Virtuix* raised $5M
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in an equity crowdfunding campaign.
*More from Fitt Insider:* *VR Fitness Heats Up*
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*Aescape*, a company creating AI-driven massage therapy experiences, raised
an additional $25M
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=752c3986f8&e=5f5826e374>
.
Australia-based personalized vitamin company *Vitable* secured A$7.5M
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($4.9M) in a funding round.
Netherlands-based *Meatable*, makers of cultivated pork sausages, collected
$35M
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in a round led by *Agronomics* to fuel expansion in the US and Singapore.
*Mirvie*, a maternal health startup, received a $4.6M
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grant from the *Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation* to study preeclampsia
conditions in Africa.
School-based mental health provider *Daybreak* *Health* landed $13M
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in a Series B round led by *Union* *Square* *Ventures*.
*FIGUR8*, an MSK condition assessment platform, added $25M
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in a Series A-1 round.
*More from Fitt Insider:* *The Business of Movement Health*
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*ZAMA* *Health*, a mental health platform for the athletic community,
secured $500K
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=cfda6b1594&e=5f5826e374>
in an oversubscribed pre-seed round.
Brain-computer interface startup *Neuralink* landed $280M
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in a Series D round.
*The Futures App*, a baseball training and skill development platform,
raised $2M
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.
*TytoCare *added $49M
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=cc0f5bbad1&e=5f5826e374>
in a funding round to further develop diagnostic AI for its virtual care
technology.
*Hero Journey Club*, a community-based mental health platform for gamers,
raised $14.6M
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.
*Pelvital* raised $2.68M
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in seed funding to complete development of its FDA-approved pelvic floor
strengthening device, Flyte.
*Uptiv Health *raised $7.5M
<https://fitt.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c6bc12e271bc681951ed945a&id=6625226db9&e=5f5826e374>
in seed funding for its hybrid infusion therapy treatments.
*Forum Health* acquired
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*InShape* *Medical*, expanding its network of functional and integrative
healthcare providers.
*Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Anthony Vennare, Joe Vennare,
Ryan Deer, and Jasmina Breen.*
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