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While the transition from fields to factories did indeed mark a shift towards more sedentary lifestyles, it’s important to acknowledge the harsh realities faced by factory workers during the Industrial Revolution.
The long, grueling hours and physically demanding labor often left workers exhausted and with little energy or motivation to pursue additional exercise, even if facilities were available. Furthermore, the lack of widespread knowledge about the importance of exercise and the potential health risks of inactivity meant that prioritizing fitness wasn’t a common practice.
So, while the availability of fitness facilities could have theoretically offered some opportunities for exercise, the practical limitations faced by factory workers during this period likely hindered their ability to take full advantage of them. This highlights the complex interplay between societal changes, working conditions, and individual agency in shaping health and fitness practices.
Even if fitness facilities were right next to their homes, it’s hard to imagine factory workers having the energy to take advantage of them after grueling shifts. Those long, brutal hours—often in poor conditions—would have left them physically drained. The idea of heading to a gym after a 12-hour day of repetitive, exhausting labor seems like a modern fantasy. Realistically, the workers were more focused on basic survival, rest, and perhaps recovering from the physical toll their jobs took. The industrial era prioritized production, not wellness, and exercise was probably the last thing on their minds.
