# How would the U.S. be different today if the 80s fitness craze had staying power? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058 "2014-11-08T14:11:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/1 "2014-11-08T14:11:49Z")
In a decade where stuff like [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozoTzkCeO-A)actual aired on TV, millions of workout VHS tapes sold, and the phenomenon generated [cover stories](http://i.imgur.com/OHOCet6.jpg), what would have happened on the national level if that sort of craze had stuck around for good. Imagine it had. Not just the sales and the glut of exercise products, but the hype, the trendiness, desire to be fit before all things. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/2 "2014-11-08T15:01:55Z")
Whole different set of lies being told on dating sites. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/3 "2014-11-08T15:45:00Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Whole different set of lies being told on dating sites. In this hypothetical world where, say, 80% of the young and middle aged population are obsessed about fitness, what would there be to lie about? Characteristics that can’t be changed, like height? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/4 "2014-11-08T15:56:33Z")
I haven’t seen any diminution of the “sales and the glut of exercise products” nor “the hype, the trendiness, desire to be fit before all things” among the people who give a shit about that stuff. The difference is that the people who were doing it back then are 30 years older now, and a bunch of people who weren’t born back then are doing it now because they’re starting to see their bodies change as they get older. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/5 "2014-11-08T15:59:27Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > In a decade where stuff like [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozoTzkCeO-A)actual aired on TV, millions of workout VHS tapes sold, and the phenomenon generated [cover stories](http://i.imgur.com/OHOCet6.jpg), what would have happened on the national level if that sort of craze had stuck around for good. Imagine it had. Not just the sales and the glut of exercise products, but the hype, the trendiness, desire to be fit before all things. Were you around back then? Just like today, there was lots of hype and advertising, and lots of sales of gym memberships and lots and lots of spandex…and lots and lots of dusty VHS boxes and a few who actually did exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/6 "2014-11-08T16:03:30Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I haven’t seen any diminution of the “sales and the glut of exercise products” nor “the hype, the trendiness, desire to be fit before all things” among the people who give a shit about that stuff. The difference is that the people who were doing it back then are 30 years older now, and a bunch of people who weren’t born back then are doing it now because they’re starting to see their bodies change as they get older. Agreed. Less spandex now, sure, but now we have yoga, Crossfit, The Biggest Loser, 5K races, etc. Tons of people have gym memberships or work out. Sure, not everyone does that now, but as **WhyNot** points out, not everyone was quite as diligent back then, either. But the overall trend of it being a generally good thing to work out and stay fit seems to have stayed. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/7 "2014-11-08T16:05:53Z")
I think the OP just wanted an excuse to post that video. And I thanks them for it. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/8 "2014-11-08T16:15:10Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > In a decade where stuff like [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozoTzkCeO-A)actual aired on TV, millions of workout VHS tapes sold, and the phenomenon generated [cover stories](http://i.imgur.com/OHOCet6.jpg), what would have happened on the national level if that sort of craze had stuck around for good. Imagine it had. Not just the sales and the glut of exercise products, but the hype, the trendiness, desire to be fit before all things. We’re _living_ in that world. Truth is, the fitness “craze” had a higher media profile early on but wasn’t much more widespread than it is now. From what I recall reading at the time, no more than 10% of the US population ever had a gym membership and no more than 5% took up running. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/9 "2014-11-09T07:51:47Z")
Yep it was strictly media hype. [Check out this excellent Sports Illustrated article from 1983.](http://www.si.com/vault/1983/02/07/534440/hold-on-there-america) It points out the “fitness boom” was almost entirely confined to the upper middle class. Plus, the rise in health clubs and aerobics classes was happening at the same time PE classes were being cut back and less flashy activities like bicycling were slumping. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/10 "2014-11-09T09:24:36Z")
Running shoes and yoga pants would be fashionable. Everyone would have a gym membership. Music players would be designed for use while working out. People would carry tiny personal computers that monitor health and fitness. McDonalds would serve salad and fruit. Nobody would shut the fuck up about crossfit. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-u-s-be-different-today-if-the-80s-fitness-craze-had-staying-power/704058/11 "2014-11-09T15:59:24Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > Nobody would shut the fuck up about crossfit. Unless they’re also vegan. The internal battle these people face: which do I talk about first (and endlessly)?