Fitness News

www.fittechglobal.com

By Kath Hudson

07 May 2024

Equinox, has teamed up with health platform, Function Health, to offer 100 comprehensive laboratory tests, giving members vital insights into their internal health as part of an Optimize by Equinox membership.

Priced at US$40,000 a year, in addition to a gym membership, the programme costs the equivalent of almost 70 per cent of the average US salary.

Tests on offer include female health; male health; stress and aging; metabolic; blood and thyroid function which will provide valuable health insights, which will then be used by Equinox’s elite Coachx trainers to develop personalised programmes.

Julia Klim, vice president of strategic partnerships at Equinox, describes this as the next chapter of healthspan and longevity: "This partnership represents a new era in personalised, performance-driven health, integrating the highest standards in personal training with cutting-edge research and data across nutrition and regeneration."

Mark Hyman, co-founder and chief medical officer of Function Health and member of the Equinox Health Advisory Board, says: "The Function and Equinox partnership is a historical moment where health breaks out of the doctor's office and extends beyond the fitness club. By combining Equinox's expertise with Function Health's 100+ lab test approach, we're unlocking a level of health and fitness that surpasses even what top doctors and biohackers can access."

Hyman is already engaging with the wellness market, delivering retreats in partnership with Six Senses (read more in HCM's sister magazine, Spa Business here).

The programmes will be delivered out of the E by Equinox clubs – the operator's most high-end locations.

The programme will also be available at the new Equinox Hotel at The Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, which is currently under development, which will see Equinox competing with other high-end operators, such as Core Life.

This is an exciting direction for the fitness industry to be heading. Social wellness club, Remedy Place, has been offering functional medicine since its launch in 2019 and Xponential Fitness announced a move into this area at the end of last year, with the purchase of metabolic health outfit, Lindora.

McKinsey’s latest wellness report identified at-home testing as an upcoming trend and longevity and healthspan are some of the major talking points at the higher end of the industry.

In the UK, mass-market operator, Everyone Active, is now offering a membership, Everyone Wellness that gives access to online doctors' appointments and in Norway, Treningshelse Holding is doing the same.