How one Iowa gym wants to end Black fitness inequities

Grace Fitness, a nonprofit fitness center in Beaverdale, Iowa, offers low-cost or free classes to those who can’t afford to pay — and it's targeting people of color.

Why it matters: Black adults had the highest average cardiovascular disease death rates in a study published this month by the Journal of the American Heart Association.

• Household income had the strongest association with CVD mortality among Black populations and was also a key factor among white people, it found.

The backstory: Zakiya Jenkins lost about 100 pounds since 2015 through diet and exercise and launched Grace Fitness in 2019.

• The goal is to provide a holistic approach to health through workshops, programs and exercise classes to vulnerable populations.
• Even at reduced rates of $5 a session, she found the services were still out of reach for some.
• Last month, she began offering free virtual exercise classes. Donations are accepted.

The bottom line: "I’m a selfish person: I’m tired of burying my family members," Jenkins told Axios.

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