Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America's Exercise Obsession

Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America's Exercise Obsession by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

Americans became fat and lazy when they moved to the suburbs and drove around in cars. Exercise was initially a fringe activity. Circus performers were most likely to have "big muscles". Later Santa Monica's muscle breach helped break exercise to a greater population. However, it still remained something done by a limited (mostly male and often gay) population. Intense exercise was deemed to be damaging to females. The government worried about the quality of soldiers and started to step in to increase physical instruction. Gyms started to sprout up. Exercise class, like Yoga, Pilates and Barre had different histories and came into the mainstream. Aerobics caught on. Women moved from "no-work" exercise in their own facilities to eventually being together with men. President's encouraged exercise - until we got to Trump who doesn't like it at all. Exercise is primarily provided by the private market, whether it be a club, class or exercise equipment. The poor do not have much access to work out, even as their work has become less grueling. 

The book is primarily narrative of the business of exercise. It has interesting descriptions of the origins of various exercise trends. The government involvement is given ample coverage, but it is clear that the government is not very much involved. PE is covered, but sports participation is most often mentioned in passing. (School and youth sports could be an entirely separate book.)