The 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness

JBnyc99

The 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness | Greatist
http://greatist.com/health/most-influential-health-fitness-people

I came across this link while checking out the Fitocracy site,...it seems it's co-founder is listed at #94.

Anyhow,...I've had several thoughts since I came across this last night, so, why not share? At first glance, I saw that there is a handful of quality people listed, which is great,...but as a whole, this list is scary. Dr. Oz at #1? Wow.

I'll admit, that I do not know about 1/3 of the names listed, but even so, my reaction was to dismiss the entire thing as being a crock and laugh it off. But then, it hit me that this list is probably very accurate, a notion which is even scarier. I'm sure if you polled "average" people,...ones who watch TV all day and get sucked into all of the latest fads,....then this list may actually reflect those who have had the most influence on them,...which again, is scary as hell.

GiddyupTim

I find that list pretty dubious. I mean, they are not defining influential. If influential means changing behavior, then the number one person cannot be Mehmet Oz; Nobody gets up off their couch because of Mehmet Oz. I doubt that he inspires them to do an apple vinegar cleanse or get a colonoscopy either.
Certainly too, Arnold Schwarzenegger did not motivate hordes of folks who never would have weightlifted otherwise to get in to the gym. He might have made us all a little more aware of bodybuilding than people were at one time, but I do not think his inlfuence led to the gym craze. And, he hasn't done a darn thing this year.
If influential is defined as inspiring people to adopt more heavy behavior, you might have to consider Phil Knight as number one. He made running popular by making shoes that made running possible for millions. It created a market that other shoe makers could jump into and spawned a movement that has changed the lives of millions. His company spends billions promoting pro athletes, which makes athletics glamorous, which helps motivate young kids to play and develop their young bodies. His contributions have had a lasting influence. I live by a big park, and I cannot go by that park any time of day or night and not see at least a few people running, usually more. They were out there every day this year, in the frost and in the heat.
If influential means promoting healthy behaviors that have led to better quality of life and greater longevity, you might have to name the surgeon general Luther Terry who put the warning label on cigarette packs. (I know, they are choosing living people, But, maybe, again, that is part of this marketing scam.)
Maybe it is those doctors who came up with oral rehydration therapy to keep people alive when they got cholera. I bet at least one of them is still alive. Nobody even knows how many lives that has saved.
Shoot. I'll bet Richard Simmons has caused buckets more sweat to be spilled than Dr. Oz. Yes, I mean this year.
This list is a catalog of the incredibly trivial contributions.

JBnyc99

It seems that Greatist compiles a new list every year. so these folks would be the most influential for the year of 2013. I agree that "Influential" is not defined, but had it been defined as "Positive", I believe this list would look very different. It would also look very different if it was an "all-time" list, living or dead, etc.

So, accepting "influence" without any qualifiers, it's hard to argue against Dr Oz being at #1. He also appears in the Top 10 for the years of 2011 and 2012. I'm sure you would agree that Dr. Oz gets quoted more often in daily conversation, then say Martin Berkhan or Layne Norton. I am not saying this is "right", far from it, but I do accept it.

I cringe at many of the names on this list, to be honest. Unfortunately, I'm sure this would hold up to be accurate if I polled 1,000 random folks getting off a train in Times Square. It would obviously look very different if it were done in more controlled environments, but ones which wouldn't reflect a true cross section of random folks,...a busy Whole Foods, the finish line of a 10K, your local gym, etc.

For comparison, if we were compiling a list of the most influential entertainers of 2013, sadly, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber would appear near the top of that list. I would bet that most adults wish that they both would go away, but the fact is, they are here and influencing a great number of our young. Again, influence would not be defined here either, but if we are attempting to be accurate, how could we honestly leave them off such a list, when we know their influence reaches far and wide?

GiddyupTim

Perhaps my examples are less than perfect. But, I still say: Many people watch Dr. Oz. But few change their behavior or adopt more healthful practices due to his advice. Therefore, he is not really influential -- he is not "influencing" anything.
And, again, Nike put shoes on millions, maybe billions, in 2013, allowing them to run and be active.
And, what about the people who continued to rail and push against trans-fats in 2013. Didn't they make a bigger difference than Oz?

StephieWillcox

At least DDP made the list

CynthiaT60

David (Aaron) Kessler should be on there.

GiddyupTim

David (Aaron) Kessler should be on there.

Yes. See that is the kind of person I am talking about -- someone who is actually bringing about change. That is influence. Being on afternoon TV is not necessarily influence.