Act Before You React

Change is only progress when it’s not thrust upon you.

When looking at the leaders in the global health and fitness industry, it’s instructive to do a simple forensics on how they achieved their position. For instance, in our interview with Shadiq Ahmed, founder and CEO of NRG Gyms Limited, Ahmed recounts what inspired him to create his fast-growing brand of 24-hour HVLP facilities. The London-based entrepreneur approached his startup partly inspired by his experiences running a microfinance bank in India. Not the usual business origin story.

Ahmed, who also sits on the HFA board, also had an RV filled with corporate finance positions, giving him a well-rounded outlook on the world of big money and the needs of consumers of all incomes and demographics. Then he acted, creating a brand that filled a need in the marketplace.

Another UK-based company, PureGyms, has a significantly larger footprint as they’ve recently opened their 700th location. With facilities in six countries, PureGym is UK’s largest gym brand, with plans to add more locations by the end of the year.

In an interview with HFB in October, PureGym CEO Clive Chesser said, “PureGym was one of the pioneers of the HVLP proposition, so our journey has been from disruptor to market leader and, now, on to international expansion.”

“Growth and comfort do not coexist.”

• Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM

Change is coming to HFB

What these two brands have in common is that each leader set their vision into operation before the market forced a reassessment. Changes to their value proposition followed similar paths by bringing a wider range of services and pricing options in anticipation of trends.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a category leader or a thriving startup, acting instead of reacting will always be an advantage. Don’t wait, don’t ask permission but forge ahead and make the change you need to make.

This brings us to Health & Fitness Business. Just as with the rebranding of the association and its flagship event, HFB has a long history under a different name. But HFA’s official publication is now fearlessly moving forward with an even more dramatic evolution.

Beginning with the January 2026 issue, HFB will no longer be distributed as a print publication but will be available exclusively online in an interactive format that will bring our content to life. This fully responsive platform will feature multimedia enhancements, such a video and animated infographics, that will further succeed in our mission of providing the story behind the headlines. Best of all, this format is fully operable on mobile and tablet devices, so HFB can be with you whenever and wherever you are.

It may not have been an easy decision to leave print behind, but as Ginni Rometty and the industry leaders mentioned above will tell you, to grow it’s necessary to leave your comfort zone and act before you react.

Health & Fitness Business is a publication of

Health & Fitness Business (HFB) is the leading health and fitness industry publication. Published monthly by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) and distributed free to the industry, HFB offers analysis of the opportunities, challenges, issues and news that impact the industry.

Subscribe | Advertise | Past Issues | FAQs

70 Fargo Street, Boston, MA 02210

1627 Street NW, Suite 1210, Washington DC, 20006