GymNation’s UAE & KSA Health & Fitness Report 2025 is live.
Consumers want additives out.
The latest: The FDA banned Red No. 3, a petroleum-based food dye used in ~3K US products, including baked goods, candy, and sugary drinks — forcing companies to reformulate by 2027.
Red flags. A known carcinogen in animals, the agency ended cosmetics use in 1990. But when the EU and other countries removed it from food decades ago, the US didn’t budge.
With similar additives like Red 40 still fair game, calls for overarching reform are intensifying — and not everyone agrees with the answer.
Green light. Incoming HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA movement has vowed to shake things up.
Controversial for fringe beliefs, RFK is pro clean food, exercise, raw milk, and sunshine. He’s also an advocate for psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, and “anything else that advances human health and can’t be patented by Pharma.”
Toxic positivity. Tackling the food system, he wants to reduce UPFs, improve school lunches, and overhaul farm subsidies. Addressing toxicity, he pledged to block chemical food additives and fluoride in public water.
Crossing subcultures, he has enlisted health advocates like Mark Hyman and the Means siblings to shape policy, leading many wellness consumers to voice cautious optimism — as most physician groups protest his appointment.
Cause and effect. A nonpartisan issue, America is facing a foodborne epidemic.
Engineered to be addictive, UPFs contribute to 1M diet-related deaths per year in the US. And 45% of cancer deaths are linked to poor diet, excess weight, and inactivity.
Skirting responsibility for more than excess calories, Big Food has used the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) framework to self-certify ingredients without FDA oversight, including Red 3, brominated vegetable oil, trans fats, aspartame, and other potentially harmful additives.
Badge of honor. Wising up, the Toxic Free Food Act was introduced last year to close loopholes. And with 70% of Americans unclear on what ultra-processed even means, the same amount supports more government regulation, including on-pack warning labels.
Taking action, independent certifications like the Seed Oil Free Alliance and Seed Oil Safe are verifying CPG brands and restaurants, and Sweetgreen launched an entire sans menu.
Combating microplastics, PlasticList’s 312-product database found 86% tested positive, while biohacker Bryan Johnson’s forthcoming Don’t Die Certified clean food dashboard will test for label accuracy, heavy metals, agrochemicals, and microplastics.
Detox. Hope for the future, younger demos are increasingly aware, with almost half of Gen Z agreeing grocery stores have a responsibility to sell healthier food.
An emerging category, toxin detection and mitigation will become a larger piece of the wellness economy, creating an opportunity for brands that reveal, reduce, or remove harmful ingredients.
Takeaway: Industrialization guards against famine, but its methods have been hijacked for profit. While grassroots movements call attention, change requires policies and incentives that prioritize real, untainted food.
🎙 On the Podcast
Farmer’s Fridge founder & CEO Luke Saunders discusses its fresh food vending machines.
Transforming on-the-go eating, Farmer’s Fridge is scaling smart fridges stocked with fresh, nutritious meals — upgrading food options in airports, schools, and beyond.
We also cover: Luke’s 10-year entrepreneurial journey, using data to optimize operations, and creating a vertically integrated food business.
Listen to today’s episode here.
🧬 OpenAI launches longevity model
The research lab teamed with Retro Biosciences to create an AI model for cellular reprogramming.
Ageless. Converting aging cells to younger, healthier versions (aka stem cells), the GPT-4b model improves cellular rejuvenation efficiency by 50x.
Long game. Benefiting anti-aging science and his portfolio, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously invested $180M into Retro, laying the groundwork for the partnership.
Smart drugs. AI partnerships are reimagining drug discovery to usher in a new era of personalized therapeutics.
- Venture firm a16z and pharma giant Eli Lilly launched a $500M AI x biotech fund.
- Chipmaker NVIDIA teamed with IQVIA, Illumina, and Mayo Clinic for AI-powered genomics research.
- Novo Nordisk expanded its AI drug discovery partnership with Valo Health, targeting obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Punchline: As artificial intelligence reshapes life as we know it, the marriage of Big Tech and biotech promises to treat disease until it can cure death, raising ethical questions along the way.
💪 United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia Embrace Fitness & Well-being
A new report from GymNation shows how far fitness has come in the Middle East:
- Gym penetration in the KSA grew 16.8% CAGR (2020–2023) and 5.8% in the UAE.
- Over 90% of respondents say exercise is crucial for reducing stress, and 92% strive to live healthier in 2025.
- Creating barriers, over half of non-gym members say high monthly fees and “gymtimidation” prevent them from joining.
Expanding the market, GymNation is winning over new gym-goers, with the majority never belonging to a gym or returning after more than a year on the sideline.
The findings show the region’s strong progress toward building healthier populations — but there’s still work to be done, with expensive memberships and gymtimidation in the way of further growth.
Democratizing access, GymNation surpassed 110K members last year, welcoming members with its fun, affordable, community-focused concept.
Learn more about industry growth in the Middle East in GymNation’s latest report.
👟 Nike announces women’s race series
The sportswear giant unveiled the After Dark Tour — a nighttime race series held in Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai, LA, and Mexico City this spring.
Squad up. Supporting female runners while forging community, the experience includes 10K and half-marathon races, a Nike Run Club training plan, custom apparel, and post-race party.
Run wild. Thinking holistically, category leaders are integrating performance marketing, digital training tools, and in-person events to inspire new runners.
- Bandit’s NYC flagship is a store, coffee shop, event space, and hangout.
- On’s Track Nights are a festival-like competition, music, and social event.
- lululemon hosted a six-day women’s ultramarathon where 10 athletes ran 3K miles.
Punchline: From run clubs to immersive stores, community-driven brands are reinventing the sport — helping upstarts stand out while forcing incumbents to evolve.
📰 News & Notes
- ARC’s social wellness club comes to LDN.
- Researchers redefine obesity, downplay BMI.
- Australia’s Viva Leisure pushes global expansion.
- Hilton extends in-room Peloton partnership to smart TVs.
- Ultrahuman, InsideTracker bring longevity blood test to the US.
- FDA authorizes ZYN nicotine pouch sales. [Re-read: Teens x Nicotine]
- Noom unveils GLP-1 medication tracker, meal planner to boost adherence.
- Kiwi Fitness debuts AI-powered, community-centered strength training app.
- lululemon signs tennis pro Frances Tiafoe, golfer Max Homa in sports push.
- Hiring? We can help. Gain access to exceptional talent from the Fitt community.
💰 Money Moves
US 🇺🇸 / Canada 🇨🇦
The Snow League, a snowboarding and freeskiing league founded by Shaun White, landed $15M in a round led by Left Lane Capital.
Teal Health, maker of an at-home cervical cancer screening device, raised $10M in a seed round.
PE firm Gryphon Investors acquired a majority stake in sparkling water brand Spindrift.
Behavioral health platform Slingshot AI secured $40M in a Series A round led by a16z.
Functional seltzer maker hiyo secured $19M in funding.
Digestive health platform Oshi Health landed undisclosed Series C funding from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and the AGA GI Opportunity Fund.
GoodLife Fitness founder David Patchell-Evans acquired a majority stake in boutique fitness franchise REGYMEN Fitness.
Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN), a food-as-medicine company for surgery patients, raised $5M in a Series A round.
Vagaro, a beauty & wellness business management platform, acquired Schedulicity, a booking platform for wellness services.
Proper Good, producer of better-for-you ready-to-eat meals, landed undisclosed funding.
Behavior change coaching app Zabit raised $2.6M in a seed round led by Offline Ventures.
Big Bold Health, maker of immuno-rejuvenation products, closed a Series B round.
Europe 🇪🇺
NRG GYM, a UK-based HVLP operator, secured £4M ($4.9M) from Puma Growth Partners to support expansion.
Chromafora, a Swedish developer of systems to remove PFAs from water, received a €22.5M ($22.9M) loan from European Investment Bank.
UK-based better-for-you dessert maker Mighty Slice landed £750K ($918K) in funding.
Asia 🌏
Singapore’s uHoo, maker of a smart indoor environmental quality sensor, landed $3.7M.
Singapore-based women’s health platform AURA FEM HEALTH secured $200K in funding.
Saudi Arabia’s Sanabil Investments partnered with venture builder Redesign Health to create 20 new healthcare companies serving the MENA region.
Malaysian juice chain being juice secured $1M in seed funding.
Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Anthony Vennare, Joe Vennare, Ryan Deer, and Jasmina Breen.
