PLT Releases New Consumer Research on the Effects of 'Mood' in the Sports and Active Nutrition Category

Feeling Active Reviews Attitudes of Consumers in Five Countries on How Cognitive States Relate to Motivation, Performance and Recovery in Maintaining an Active Lifestyle and Implications for Supplement Innovation

MORRISTOWN, N.J., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PLT Health Solutions, Inc today announced the release of new consumer research on how cognitive states – or mood – affect their sports and active lives. The report – Feeling Active – reviews a study of 546 people in five countries on a broad range of topics ranging from thoughts on mental energy, stress, sleep and focus to how they impact the sports and active experience. The goal of this research was to provide insights into developing meaningful, innovative sports and active nutrition products. The study found that the highest perceived barriers to regular exercise were inadequate energy or sleep (42%), lack of motivation (40%), and time constraints (38%). 31% cited stress as a barrier. The study also examined the inverse impact of exercise on mood. It found that consumers are increasingly focused on how they feel, not just how they look, when it comes to fitness and overall health. The report is available at www.plthealth.com/feeling-active-report.

According to Steve Fink, Vice President, Marketing for PLT Health Solutions, the focus on cognitive support and the impetus for the consumer research was driven by genuine grassroots consumer interest in the area. ""PLT has been active in helping to deliver emotional and cognitive benefits into sports nutrition formulations for nearly a decade with our Zembrin^® Sceletium tortuosum ingredient. I'd like to say that we invented the concept of adding cognitive support to sports nutrition products, but it wouldn't be true. It's an idea that we 'discovered.' In the early 2010s, we came across comments about 'this great ingredient that really improves my workout' on bodybuilding bulletin boards. On their own, consumers were buying and talking about Zembrin and taking it alongside their pre-workout supplements. It made perfect sense to us, so we started talking to our sports nutrition customers about the idea of adding mood and focus benefits to their sports nutrition formulations," he said. "PLT's cognitive health portfolio has grown to eight ingredients today, six of which offer benefits that can have an impact on the sports/active experience in a targeted way. The Feeling Active research was our attempt to understand what consumers really want and to help inspire innovation in the category," he added.

The Feeling Active Research

In 2024, PLT engaged a third party consumer research firm to conduct a study on consumer attitudes about mood and active nutrition. The study featured 546 respondents in the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy. The research covered respondents exercise activity and attitudes toward exercise. This included issues such as motivation, mood, goals, and the impact of injuries. It also reviewed respondents' attitudes toward dietary supplements and finally their thoughts on supplements providing cognitive support in a sports/active context.

Relevant findings include:

• Overall, 62% regard exercise as "self-care" followed by 18% who think it is a hobby.
• The highest perceived barriers to regular exercise were inadequate energy or sleep (42%), lack of motivation (40%), and time constraints (38%). 31% cited stress as a barrier.
• The main motivation for exercise is to be healthy and fit (59%); 21% are motivated by looking good, and 21% saying feeling healthy and looking good are equally important.
• 69% would be focused on actions to improve mood and mental resilience when injured
• 94% find the idea of a dietary supplement promoting a healthier relationship between mind and body appealing

According to Fink, there is a growing opportunity in the market for sports/active formulations that feature cognitive benefits. "Today's sports/active formulation is more complex and sophisticated than ever, with consumers looking for a broader range of benefits. Increasingly, they are looking to branded, science-backed ingredients to power those formulations. We hope that Feeling Active can help sports and active nutrition consumer products companies innovate faster and more successfully," he said.

To receive Feeling Active, visit www.plthealth.com/feeling-active-report or contact PLT.

SOURCE PLT Health Solutions