Body Edge Personal Training

FB memories...Toronto Pro 2014.

Nancy's undisputed best physique ever with great size and conditioning and ironically, one of her worst placings. We, and all involved with the prep and most others that know the sport were baffled by the placing.

We found out from an errant email from an official a few days later it had nothing to do with her physique presented that day in Toronto but everything to do with "something spoken from BC"... hard lesson learned for the whole team to "Stay within the political lines or else".

Great memories regardless!

The line has been crossed. More than half of adults alive today are now classified as overweight or obese, and the WHO's 2026 data makes it official.

In 2022, the WHO recorded 2.5 billion adults as overweight, with 890 million of those living with obesity. Combined, that pushes the global figure past 50% of the adult population for the first time in documented human history.

In 1975, only 105 million people globally were living with obesity. By 2022 that had grown to 890 million. A 2026 analysis published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences projects that number will reach 1.13 billion obese adults by 2030.

But then something else is happening alongside those numbers. The food system is accelerating the problem in ways that are only now being fully documented. Ultra-processed foods account for over 50% of calorie intake in high-income nations, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health. A systematic review published in PLOS One in April 2026 by Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke of the University of Gondar found that adolescents consuming high levels of ultra-processed foods had more than double the odds of being overweight or obese compared to those who consumed less.

The UK sits in a particularly exposed position. Rates of overweight and obesity in the UK have risen 92% since 1990, compared to 65% in the United States, according to the OECD. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has identified the UK as the most overweight country in Western Europe.

The WHO issued its first formal guideline on GLP-1 therapies in December 2025, recommending drugs like semaglutide for long-term use alongside structured behavioural therapy. Research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, published in JAMA Internal Medicine in March 2026, found GLP-1 drugs delivered comparable effectiveness across age groups, races, and starting weights.

But IQVIA's 2026 obesity outlook noted that GLP-1 drugs were added to the WHO Essential Medicines List for diabetes only, not obesity, highlighting ongoing access and equity gaps that mean the treatment revolution is not reaching everyone equally.

The 50% threshold is not just a statistic. It marks the first moment in history when the minority of adults maintaining a healthy weight are outnumbered.

It’s that time of year. Lots have great intentions and started. We are in Week 3 and you can already notice the drop off. If it was easy, everyone would do it!

Be the one!!!

Huge CONGRATS to Perry's Gym & Fitness Centre in Glace Bay on 30th Anniversary. (Nov 5).

Being a past gym owner, I know what kind of work and dedication it takes to make it just a few years in the business...let alone 30 years.

Congrats to Perry and staff for creating an unbelievable environment for people of all ages and fitness levels to enjoy!!

Fantastic accomplishment!

Today, November 5 marks 30 incredible years since we first opened our doors here at Perry’s Gym.

To our loyal members, thank you for trusting us with your fitness goals and for building a community that goes far beyond the gym walls. You’ve made Perry’s Gym more than just a place to work out, you’ve made it a family.

Here’s to another three decades of personal bests, high-fives, and lasting friendships, and to many more years of moving and feeling better together.

Pictured are some original members, Leo Livingstone, Kenny Turner, Marg Kennedy, Amelia Simmons, Perry, and Gordie Turnbull still going strong after 30 years with us!

Thank you.

Perry & Staff

Ryan Ricker IFBB Pro…

Winner of Toronto Natural Pro in Open Bodybuilding!

Congrats Ryan!

Ryan Ricker battling in Men’s Open Bodybuilding at Toronto Natural Pro Show.

Great showing in pre- judging! Couple more hrs to finals!!

Ryan Ricker, IFBB Pro, from Castlegar,BC, has just started his final week of prep for the 2025 Natural Canada Pro Show in Toronto on Aug 3. This is the 1st All Natural pro Show to be held in Canada.

Ryan won his IFBB Pro Card in 2024 at the Toronto Natural Pro Qualifier so this will be his Pro Debut.

Ryan has always been able to carry lots of muscle on his physique and to get his conditioning at a good level. This year, we took the conditioning to another level and even Ryan himself is surprised by his look.

Ryan has endured a diet that would be classed as extreme compared to his previous preps. A tougher diet, more cardio plus more recovery time has given us results to this point that we are very happy with and we have full protocol in place for final week which has been tested 3 times so there is no guessing. We were able to test the protocol early because Ryan was extremely conditioned early due to his commitment to the process. From the onset, he put his head down and did as instructed. No whining or complaining...just did the work. He relayed that it definitely felt different than past preps and he was in the "suffer or suck zone" earlier than ever.

This physique is 100% Natural...no anabolics; no fat burners; no diuretics!! Created by straight Hard Work!

It will be a fun and interesting week for all involved.

Ryan Ricker IFBB Pro… Castlegar, BC, is 8 wks out from the Toronto Natural Pro. This is the inaugural Natural Pro show in Canada.

Ryan turned pro at the Canadian Natural Nationals in Toronto last August.

The picture is a picture of a computer screen during a posing session if wondering why it is so grainy.

8 weeks to go!!