A Health Metric You May Not Be Thinking About

We track a lot of things, maybe too many things. We have members in the gym (you know who you are) who freak out if they forgot to set their Apple Watches when the workout begins. (Chill, people, the workout happened!) We track steps, sleep, protein, heart rate, HRV and more. And these can matter when you're working toward a goal. But a very strong predictor of how long and how well you live doesn't show up on your watch. It’s your connection with people.

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In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health epidemic. About half of American adults report feeling lonely. And a lack of social connection is linked to a 29% higher risk of heart disease, a 32% higher risk of stroke, and a 50% higher risk of dementia in older adults. I would imagine things like COVID, more remote workers and lots of technology have contributed to this.

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It’s ironic that we have more ways than ever to keep in touch. We can text, call, FaceTime, and DM, but that doesn’t seem to be a substitute for good old-fashioned in-person togetherness.

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Now let’s talk about the blue zones, those areas of the world with the highest concentrations of people aged 100+. The people in these zones all eat healthy, yet their diets differ. They move a lot, yet their exercise differs. But what they have in common is a sense of purpose and community.  They get together on a regular basis; they have each other’s backs when someone needs help; they have a place to “be,” so when they don’t show up, it’s noticed.

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After all these years of running Vero Strength, I've realized a gym can be so much more than a workout. Yes, you get stronger. But you also get a class crew that notices when you're missing. And, believe me, it happens. A week doesn’t go by without someone asking me where “so and so” has been. You get conversations that run longer than the training session. A connection with a coach.

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You don’t have to become besties with everyone in the gym, but that HUMAN interaction for an hour goes a long way, especially for those who live or work solo.

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Strength matters. Nutrition matters. Sleep matters. But so does connection.