Welcome back to the 2000s, the decade of low-rise jeans, workout DVDs, and the Nintendo Wii (remember them?) Some noughties fitness ideas were surprisingly ahead of their time. Others…less so.
Let’s revisit some of that decade’s biggest fitness trends to see which survived, which evolved, and which are perhaps better left in the past.
Wii Fit and the rise of ‘exergaming’
The Nintendo Wii launched in 2006, followed by the Wii Fit in 2007. You might remember that iconic balance board, and the virtual trainer taking you through yoga, step aerobics, and even jogging – all in the comfort of your own home.
Did these games have any meaningful impact on activity levels or just clutter up our garages with balance boards destined for car boot sales?
Evidence:
Research suggests Wii Fit was onto something – reviews of ‘exergaming’ have found that active video games can increase physical activity. A 2023 meta-analysis of 25 studies found a moderate positive effect on overall physical activity from active-video-game interventions.1
Verdict: Alive, but evolved
The Wii might be obsolete tech, but the concept has survived, evolving into VR fitness, interactive games, and gamified workouts.
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Pedometers, step counts, and 10,000 steps
Pedometers really took off in the 2000s as tech enabled us to somewhat accurately track our steps. Who remembers walking round the supermarket with a plastic pedometer clipped to your waistband?
The modern equivalent is sleeker – smartphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and activity rings.
Evidence:
There’s plenty of evidence to show that the idea of increasing step count was more than a fad.
A 2022 Lancet Digital Health review found that activity trackers are associated with increased physical activity (roughly 1,800 extra steps per day).2
Verdict: Survived and thrived
The clever bit wasn’t necessarily the magic 10,000 steps, but the tech that made movement visible.
Hot yoga: was sweatier better?
Bikram yoga (a form of hot yoga where the room is heated to around 40 degrees Celsius) was fashionable in the 2000s, driven by a celebrity fan base. A new language around detoxing began to emerge. But does exercising hotter necessarily make it more effective?
Evidence:
Heat does add physiological stress, but it doesn’t automatically make a workout more effective, burn more fat, or detox anything. The heat increases your heart rate, as your cardiovascular system works harder to cool you down, but this doesn’t relate to burning more calories.3
The dramatic sweat loss also creates a false impression as the water lost through sweating returns once you rehydrate.3
Verdict: Still here, but the hype has cooled
Hot yoga is still available, but the format has shifted from the ultra-hardcore Bikram and now offers more accessible hot yoga methods.
Celebrity workouts and fitness DVDs
Davina, Nell McAndrew, even Sonia from Eastenders brought out fitness DVDs in the 2000s. And they sold in their millions. Hands up if you got a celebrity workout DVD for Christmas?
The tech may be obsolete, but the consumer behaviour of working out at home definitely is not.
Evidence:
Working out at home didn’t disappear when the DVDs did. Research suggests that digital tools can still help people stick with home exercise4, it’s just the technology that’s shifted. DVDs and TV workouts are now online videos, apps, and streaming options.
Verdict: Shifted to a different platform
Today’s celebrities are more likely to be home-grown influencers, and instead of DVDs they are selling memberships and downloads.
Making workout playlists
The noughties were the decade when music and fitness found a natural partnership. iPods were booming, and we were all able to make our own playlists for exercise sessions, running, and home workouts.
Evidence:
This wasn’t a fad. The iPod might be vintage technology now, but the idea is fresh as a daisy. A 2020 meta-analysis of 139 studies found that music can influence psychological and physiological responses during exercise and sport, and can enhance physical performance.5
Verdict: Boom boom booming
Exercising to music is backed by science, and it’s never been easier to make your own personal playlist. The funny thing is that many of us still have lots of 2000s tunes in our workout mixes!
For more exercise tips head over to our fitness hub for some inspiration.
References
- Active Video Game Interventions Targeting Physical Activity Behaviors – National Library of Medicine
- Effectiveness of wearable activity trackers to increase physical activity and improve health – National Library of Medicine
- How Many Calories Does Hot Yoga Really Burn? – Biology Insights
- Digital technology integration in home-based exercise – National Library of Medicine
- Effects of music in exercise and sport – National Library of Medicine
