Women's Health Series - Groe Solutions: Amy Bantham, DrPH - From Playground to Silver Years

In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Dr. Amy Bantham — public health researcher, fitness professional, and founder of Move to Live More — for a refreshingly real conversation on women's health across the full lifespan. Rather than carving women's health into isolated phases like pregnancy or menopause, Dr. Bantham makes the case for a whole-person, health-span approach that starts in childhood and never stops. They dig into why most women aren't lacking motivation — they're lacking time, community, and programming that actually meets them where they are. From the funding gaps in women's health research, to building genuine social connectedness inside fitness facilities, to why "self-care is not selfish," this episode is packed with practical insights for fitness professionals, gym operators, and anyone invested in helping women move better and live longer. 🔬 The Women's Health Research Gap — The vast majority of women's health funding is still focused on pregnancy, leaving every other stage of a woman's life severely underfunded and under-researched. 📅 Think Health Span, Not Life Stage — Segmenting women's health into phases (puberty, reproductive years, menopause) misses the bigger picture. Real impact comes from supporting women consistently across their entire lives. 🧠 Behavior Change Is the Real Product — Great programming means nothing without adherence. The unsexy fundamentals — sleep, recovery, stress management, nutrition, movement, and community — are what actually move the needle. 👩‍🏫 Representation Matters in Fitness — Women over 40 are one of the most underserved fitness demographics, yet many facilities staff 18-year-old male trainers. Matching coaches to clients in age, experience, and background drives retention. 🤝 Community Is the #1 Missing Ingredient — Women show up for each other. Fitness facilities that intentionally build social connectedness — icebreakers, partner workouts, group challenges — see stronger participation and long-term commitment. ⏰ Time Is the Biggest Barrier — Especially for the "sandwich generation" juggling kids, careers, and aging parents, time for self-care gets deprioritized. Operators and coaches need to actively design around this reality. 🏃‍♀️ Keep Girls Moving Early — Girls drop out of organized physical activity at a significantly earlier age than boys. Building positive movement habits in childhood is the foundation for active, healthy adulthood. 😂 Fun and Laughter Drive Fitness Longevity — Programs built on small wins, laughter, celebration, and joy outperform ones built on discipline alone. Find what you love, and you'll do it forever. 💬 Self-Care Is Not Selfish — A core message from Dr. Bantham's work: women taking care of themselves are better equipped to show up for everyone else in their lives. 🏅 The Best Exercise Is the One You'll Actually Do — Forget the optimization rabbit hole. Consistency over time with something you genuinely enjoy will always beat the "perfect" program you abandon in three weeks. LINK: https://groe.solutions/