Top Five Supplement Trends in the Fitness Industry

Promoting a healthy lifestyle through exercise and proper nutrition is crucial. As a gym owner or personal trainer, you should consider offering your clients a comprehensive approach to wellness with dietary supplements that could fill the gaps in their diet. By providing your clients with more than just a place to workout, you create a value add that keeps them coming back for more. 

Trina Gray, owner of Bay Athletic Club in Alpena, Michigan, put it best. “You cannot be in the business of prevention and wellness and only focus on sweat,” she said. “We know so much more now. In the 1980s or 1990s, we all taught group fitness and thought that was enough. Now we can use more, do more. What can we send them home with?^1″

What value is your gym or fitness facility providing to clients besides a good workout? 

Let’s explore dietary supplements and how they could be the value add you’ve been looking for. 

Why Dietary Supplements? 

Your clients care about their health. They wouldn’t be members at your facility or clients of your training programs if they weren’t being proactive about their overall health and wellness. By retailing dietary supplements, you can provide a benefit to their health, while receiving a return on your initial investment. Although dietary supplements can’t replace a healthy diet and lifestyle, there are some that could have value to a client’s overall health, depending on the intensity of the workout performed.

Top Five Supplement Trends 

Thinking about integrating dietary supplements into your gym or fitness facility? Check out our roundup of the top five supplement trends in the fitness industry. 

Creatine

This dietary supplement is for clients who are looking to gain muscle mass. Creatine is formulated to provide muscles and other bodily tissues with energy. As you know, taking creatine doesn’t always result in muscle gains. Clients should follow an exercise program and a proper diet filled with protein-rich foods to prep the body to gain muscle mass with the addition of creatine. 

Collagen

Collagen is the most common peptide supplement—and also the most prominent protein in the body.² Although the health benefits of collagen supplements are disputed, they are formulated to support musculoskeletal health. Additionally, research suggests that “taking collagen may promote the synthesis of muscle proteins like creatine, as well as stimulate muscle growth after exercise.²” 

Bone Broth

You have probably heard about the hype surrounding bone broth. Although similar to collagen, bone broth shouldn’t be mistaken for having the same benefits. Bone broth comes in whole-food form, which makes it one of the most bioavailable forms of collagen. Typically, when you think of bone broth, you visualize it in liquid form. But there are a variety of powder supplements available on the market today that can be used pre- and post-workout. 

BCAAs 

BCAAs, or branched-chain amino acids, are a group of three essential amino acids that the body can’t make—they must be absorbed through diet. BCAAs are typically seen in powder form and are often taken post-workout since they are formulated to support the muscles and fatigue that may be a result of an intense exercise. 

MCT Oil

MCT oil, or medium-chain triglycerides, are naturally-occurring fats that are found in coconut oil, among others. According to Alissa Rumsey, a contributor for U.S. News & World Report, “Because medium-chain fatty acids are more readily absorbed, MCT oil has several health benefits . . . MCT oil’s unique absorption means that it is more likely to be used as energy and less likely to be stored as body fat, compared to long-chain fats.³” MCT oil can be used as a substitute or addition to a variety of recipes, like bulletproof coffee, smoothies, and salad dressings.

Should You Retail Dietary Supplements? 

Retailing dietary supplements in your gym or fitness facility is a choice that you can make for the benefit of your clients. It could be the nutrition component you have been looking to incorporate into your offerings. Before you pull the trigger on the idea of retailing products like those mentioned above, ask your clients what they think about the idea of being able to purchase them in-house. By surveying your clients, you can gauge whether or not the investment is worth the risk.

Once you make the decision to retail dietary supplements in your space, it’s time to educate yourself. You need to be a product expert for your clients. This can help them with the decision-making process when choosing a dietary supplement to add to their routine. 

Your clients are looking for results—that is one of the reasons they come to your fitness facility. Help them reach their health, fitness, and wellness goals by retailing a selection of dietary supplements. 

Get access to professional pricing when you create an account or contact your account manager at 1.800.537.5512 for more information.

Disclaimer

This site is not intended to provide opinion or treatment services and is for informational purposes only. These products and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. 

References

¹Howlett, Sarah Protzman. “Nutrition: The Element Most Health Clubs Miss in the Fight Against Obesity.” Club Industry, 22 Jan. 2019, www.clubindustry.com/trends/nutrition-element-most-health-clubs-miss-fight-against-obesity.

²Elliott, Brianna. “Top 6 Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements.” Healthline, 19 Feb. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits

³“What You Need to Know About MCT Oil.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/should-you-add-mct-oil-to-your-diet.