J. Derek Kingsley, PhD, FACSM

Gyms are coming to airports… I had the privilege of spending time with @SecKennedy and @SecDuffy as the DOT announced a new initiative to bring gyms into U.S. airports. This is a $1B grant program that airports across the country can apply for to build real spaces for people to move while they travel. The problem is that airports, and travel in general, are one of the most sedentary experiences in American life. Think about it: the traffic getting there, the waiting, the long flights… hours and hours without movement. And we know that being sedentary is not good for us. Even 1 hour of inactivity can lead to vascular dysfunction at the level of the endothelium (PMID: 25137367, 27443851). And studies have shown that 2-3 hours of inactivity leads to a rise in inflammatory markers (PMID: 31562947, 22176839, 28323950). Imagine having a place to actually move your body before a flight or during a layover. This is the kind of change that can meaningfully improve health for millions of travellers. And the craziest part? This entire opportunity began from one story I posted in an airport. You never know who’s watching or where a simple idea can lead. Moments like this make me incredibly grateful, and remind me why this work matters. Every time you share a video or spread the message, it opens doors for conversations and initiatives like this - so thank you for your help. If you want a mini-gym in your airport, tag your local airport, tag Secretary Duffy (@SecDuffy), and share this with your friends and family. I've started by tagging the airports I frequent below. Please help us make mini-gyms in airports a reality in hundreds thousands of airports across the country! @iah @iflymia @flyLAXairport