Home ›› 20 Nov 2021 ›› Front
There has been heightened awareness about health and fitness in the wake of Covid-19 crisis that has ultimately fuelled the demand for workout equipment mainly in urban areas of Bangladesh.
The health-conscious people mostly in cities are now purchasing various workout equipment and accessories such as treadmills, spin bikes, resistance bands, skipping ropes, and dumbbells, which are compatible for homes, to keep their physique sound and fit.
Apart from that, the country’s workout equipment market is growing by 30 per cent year-on-year with the rising number of gyms, plus a significant increase in gymnasium membership is supplementing the growth of fitness equipment market, thereby leading to increased investment in the sector, according to the business insiders.
Now there is hardly any area in the capital where there is no fitness centre. The number is growing day by day to cater to the rising demand. Previously limited to the affluent class, the trend of workout at gym is getting popular among the mid-income group also.
Besides, the problem of obesity, which is now widespread, is leading an increasing number of people to the gym to have their weight trimmed down and look attractive.
A research article titled “Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013,” reveals that the rate of either being overweight or obese doubled among Bangladeshi adults from 1980 to 2013.
The survey, which was conducted by an international consortium of researchers led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, also said, “In 1980, 7 per cent adults were overweight or obese which had climbed to 17 per cent in 2013.
According to a research titled “Prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in Bangladesh: findings from a countrywide epidemiological study” published in BioMed Central Pediatrics in 2014, also said the obesity and overweight rate is alarming among school-going children in Bangladesh.
Among the six to 15 year old, both from urban and rural areas, 3.5 per cent were obese, 9.5 per cent were overweight while 17.6 per cent were underweight, found the research.
With the increasing number of diabetic patients across the country, the demand for fitness products is making a significant demand round the year.
The demand for such workout equipment is growing fast amid rapid urbanisation and growing mass awareness about health and body fitness.
As per the data of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2018, around 11 million people are diabetic patients in the country.
Bangladesh Sports Goods Merchants Manufactures and Importers Association data shows that the current market size of such equipment is Tk 1,500 crore with an annual growth rate of 30 per cent.
Though the local manufactures are producing a few products like dumbbells, push up components, gym belts, the market is still highly import-dependent mainly on Chinese goods.
As a result, Bangladesh is importing around 500 containers of fitness products annually from abroad.
Every year the demand for such products is growing by 25 to 30 per cent. A significant number of diabetic patients are also coming up in search of such equipment compatible for their homes, said BSGMMIA president Shamim.
Gymnasium, home fitness centres major driver for growth
The growing gymnasium business across the country along with increasing home fitness centres in major cities is driving growth for the workout equipment market in Bangladesh.
While talking to The Business Post, BSGMMIA general secretary Habibur Rahman said, “Nowadays, workout equipment is highly needed in conjunction with the rising gymnasium along with home-based fitness centres in major cities.”
As the open places to walk in the city is gradually shrinking, a section of capable city dwellers are now turning a room of their residence into a fitness centre with trade mills, spin bikes and dumbbells just to maintain their body fitness, said Rahman.
The tendency of investing money in this sector is actually boosting the fitness equipment market, he added.
Tanvir Hasan, a partner of Bodyshape Gym and Health Club at Dhanmondi, said, “We are providing regular service for up to 150 people from all ages. Not only are the younger people but also the senior citizens including children are now turning up here.”
“The demand for equipment, which is compatible for homes, is also rapidly increasing in major cities as some of our customers prefer to have a home fitness centre after knowing all the procedures of keeping body fitness perfectly,” he added.
Pandemic, a momentum for the business
Though the Covid-19 pandemic has harshly cast a negative impact on the fitness equipment business from the very beginning, the business started to sharply turn around when people came to know the importance of exercise to boost immunity.
As all gymnasiums were closed during the lockdown, people made home fitness centres to continue their physical exercise, which made a notable demand for fitness equipment.
The sellers started to use e-commerce platforms during the pandemic to survive.
“Mainly, we used to sell sports items, but the demand for sports dropped harshly in the wake of Covid-19. However, the demand for fitness items now continued to remain steady. Many people asked us to provide such products during the pandemic outbreak to maintain their body fitness,” said Abdul Kabir from Sports Master at Gulistan.
A Dhaka college student Arif Ahamed said, “I used to do my physical exercise at a private gymnasium before the pandemic but my exercise was largely hampered and consequently gained weight because of the enforced lockdown.”
“That’s why, I have purchased some fitness equipment including spin bikes and dumbbells from an e-commerce platform just to carry out my physical exercise to keep myself fit,” he added.
Why are people looking for such instruments?
People are now in search of fitness products not only for maintaining sound health but also for making their bodies fit. Some said they don’t want to carry extra weight for which they use such workout equipment.
While talking to The Business Post, a former student of Dhaka University Masud Alam said he used to exercise with fitness equipment to lead a healthy life, both physically and mentally.
Those who gain extra weight cannot perform their duties easily and it may also cause various diseases including diabetics, said Masud.
“I want to lead a healthy and sound life until the last breath and it is the best way to do regular exercise to maintain our body fitness for a long time,” he added.
Raisa Akter, a housewife at Uttara, said she had been advised by her doctor to do some physical exercise regularly as she is a diabetic patient.
“I don’t go out very often from my home as I am quite busy with my household chores all day long. Now, I am doing my physical exercise with fitness equipment at my home following the proper guidelines,” she added.
A private job holder in Dhanmondi area Naim Hasan, who recently purchased a treadmill to do his physical exercise, said he gained extra-weight recently as he was fond of junk food.
“As I do feel uneasy with my extra-weight and have no time to go to any nearby gym, I can now do my physical exercise easily at home with my treadmill.” he added.
Araf Hossen, a trainer of Gym Zone at Mirpur maintained that, “Those who use the instrument can only keep their body perfectly fit which is not possible only by walking.”
The ever-growing addiction to smartphone uses and also the increasing trend of having junk food are mainly responsible for gaining overweight and obesity finally among the children and adolescents in the country, said Dr Monira Hossain, consultant of Department of Pediatrics at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
The use of workout equipment can play a pivotal role in making body fit by reducing overweight, she added.
Business insider said there are around 300 privately-run gymnasium centers in the capital. Establishing a medium size gymnasium involves around Tk 20 lakh to 30 lakh.
