As the obesity rate continues to rise in this country, the market for health and fitness has evolved into an industry estimated to be worth $17.6 billion. African American adults have the highest obesity rates at 37 percent among men and nearly 50 percent among women. With alarming rates such as these, more Black fitness stars are devising innovative ways for people to get off the couch and burn calories while having fun. Here are seven of the best bodies and business models among African American fitness gurus:
Billy Blanks
While working out in his basement in 1976, martial artist Billy Blanks accidentally developed what would later become known to the world as Tae Bo, an aerobic routine that incorporates martial arts, boxing and dance. After opening the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks in 1989, word traveled about the infectious workout, bringing in celebrity clients such as Paula Abdul. Blanks introduced the first Tae Bo workout video in 1998 and within a year, had sold 1.5 million video sets. Although competition has tempered the popularity of the Tae Bo DVDs now-a-days, it remains one of the top selling workout regiments. Banks now lives in Japan where in 2007, he reportedly sold more than $130 million worth of merchandise, including more than a million copies of his ‘Billy’s BootCamp’ series.
Donna Richardson Joyner
A fitness guru for over 25 years, Donna Richardson Joyner, wife of celebrity radio host Tom Joyner, has the number one inspirational fitness video in America titled, “Sweating in the Spirit,” which has sold more than 1,000,000 copies. An inductee of the Fitness Hall of Fame, Richardson Joyner was recently appointed by President Obama to serve on the 2010-2012 President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. In the meantime, she continues to lecture and produce fitness seminars around the world while serving as a fitness expert on the “NBC Weekend Today Show.”
MEL B
At 35 years old, former Spice Girl Mel B. has a body that makes people green with envy. In 2008, the mother of two shared her secret for what it takes to look like a million bucks when she released the Totally Fit: Mel B DVD. As of January 2009, the video sold 23,000 units in her native UK and has also enjoyed popularity in the states. In addition to her workout DVD, she hosts a workout show on the Oxygen Network called, “Dance Your A$$ Off.”
Shaun T
This actor and dancer first made waves in the fitness world when he created Hip Hop Abs in early 2007, which quickly became the number one fitness program on TV in America. He followed up in 2008 when he released two new programs for young people: Shaun T’s Fit Kids Club, a workout series for kids ages 7 and up, and Get Real with Shaun T for preteens. He also released Rockin’ Body, a calorie-burning and full-body sculpting workout. When he released Insanity, his most extreme fitness series yet, in July of 2009, many folks saw the routine and thought he was insane. Yet, it’s gained popularity, so much so that it rivals the extreme P90X workout. Insanity is consistently ranked in the top selling fitness DVDs, despite its $144.50 price tag.
Darrin DeWitt Henson
Though he is most famous for his role as Lem Van Adams on Showtime’s “Soul Food,” Darrin DeWitt Henson is also a MTV-award winning choreographer that has worked with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Usher and Justin Timberlake. His mission has been demonstrating to people that dance can be an excellent form of exercise—in 2005, he released Darrin’s Dance Grooves, which has sold over 3 million copies. Volume 2 of Darrin’s Dance Grooves was released in 2007. Last month, he released Get Fit & Stay Fit with Darrin Henson, a new health and fitness DVD.
Jeanette Jenkins
Known as The Hollywood Trainer, Jeanette Jenkins launched her company of the same name in Los Angeles in 2002 and within three years, her company projected sales of over $1 million. Since then, Jenkins has become one of the country’s leading healthy lifestyle coaches. She authored The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan: 21 Days to Make Healthy Living a Lifetime Habit in 2007 and created the highly successful Bikini Bootcamp in 2009.This year, Jenkins released her 14th workout DVD titled “Blast the Belly Fat” and joined forces with legendary fitness guru Jane Fonda for Team Jane Fonda’s Workout exclusively for Target.
Nelly
Since his debut in the music industry in 2000, rapper Nelly has experienced much success having sold more than 20 million records. Now, he’s looking to move into the world of health and fitness. The Grammy-award winning artist started a workout regiment while preparing to film the remake of “The Longest Yard.” Since then, he’s developed and maintained the discipline that goes with being a top fitness trainer. In August, he released his brand new fitness DVD titled Celebrity Sweat, which features workout routines from various famous athletes and celebrities.
