Most people think that a gym membership is a luxury. It’s considered and extra cost that we just don’t need, even if we want it. However, this might not be true. Getting higher pay by working out sounds crazy, doesn’t it. But it’s not crazy. There are many studies that link higher pay to working out. The most recent one is from 2012 in the June issue of the Journal of Labor Research, The results of the study found that employees who regularly exercise earn 9% more than their counterparts.
Previous studies have only been able to show a correlation and not a causation. Correlation does not mean much. It could just mean that people who earn more have more time to exercise. This most recent study is different. Vasilios Kosteas of Cleveland State University scored each subject on how well they fit the profile of a regular exerciser. He then compared only similar individuals, some of whom didn’t exercise, and found that those who actually did earned more — 9% more.
Your Gym Membership Pays for Itself.. and then Some
The latest study defined “regular exercise” as working out at least three hours a week. Considering that the average hourly wage in the U.S. is $23.41, the time workers spend at the gym is valued at $70.23 — but the extra pay the exercising employee receives is $84.28, about 20% more than the value of the time spent at the gym. Of course, to actually see this value, you have to use your gym membership. You can use those extra dollars to buy dinner.
People Who Do not Exercise Earn Less
Beyond this, other studies have shown the flip side: that people who are not in good shape tend to make less money. A 2007 study, for example, found that women who were obese earned, on average, 18% less than those who weren’t. Those who were overweight also had 25% less family income.
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Irina Marchenkova is a Personal Trainer at Lifetime Athletic in Ajax
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