Forget dense academic journals. NASM’s new publication offers peer-reviewed research designed for the gym floor and coaches who want to stay a step ahead
If you’ve noticed that every fitness and wellness brand seems to have a science council these days, you’re not imagining it. The industry is on a serious credibility push, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) just made a significant, forward-thinking contribution.
The group, a leader in the fitness and wellness certification space, has launched the Journal of Fitness, Wellness and Human Performance (JFWHP), a peer-reviewed publication built on “actionable science” so fitness and wellness coaches can easily digest the latest research and apply it to their practice.
JFWHP will be published biannually in partnership with KGL Meridian, covering fitness and sports performance, wellness and health, nutrition, dietetics, sports medicine and physical therapy.
As NASM head of product Mike Fantigrassi said, the publication is where science meets practice.
credit: NASM
“Our mission is to empower professionals with a trusted source of peer-reviewed research and practical insights that elevate human performance and well-being,” he said. “By providing this as an integrated benefit, we are ensuring our members have the evidence-based strategies they need to deliver superior results for their clients.”
Full access is bundled into NASM One, the brand’s all-in-one development platform, while select articles will be publicly available. The publication has also put out a call for researchers, clinician-scientists and subject matter experts to submit practitioner-focused research.
NASM is the latest (but far from the only) brand making the science play, likely because the informed consumer has changed everything. They follow researchers on social media, listen to PhDs on podcasts and are quick to call out brands that make claims they can’t back up.
And while fitness and nutrition were long dominated by aesthetics and before-and-after photos, consumers are now training for longevity and metabolic health, demanding more than vague claims and influencer endorsements.
Hyrox, the fast-growing fitness racing brand with its eyes on Olympic inclusion, launched its Science Advisory Council in December, pulling in academics from several leading universities to produce an annual research report, host a symposium, and oversee up to five research projects per year.
On the wellness side, the trend is just as pronounced.
Therabody has invested over $10 million in research initiatives through its Scientific Advisory Board, with a formal partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Bon Charge and SweatHouz have both established their own scientific boards, with Bon Charge recently adding Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Shawn Stevenson and Dr. Chérine Bazzane as its latest members.
Next Health has built a Scientific Advisory Council featuring functional medicine heavyweights like Dr. Mark Hyman, while recovery tech brand Ammortal has brought on Dr. Darshan Shah as its first chief medical officer.
