Although many people tend to hit the anti fatigue mats of the gym in an effort to stay in top shape, new findings reveal it may not be as many people as we might think.

Researchers from Penn State and the University of Maryland examined data from the U.S. government in order to figure out exactly how much the American public exercises.

While the study’s authors revealed that the most prominent activity for the American public is walking, they also examined how many people participate in team sports. Basketball was the most popular, coming in front of football, soccer, baseball, volleyball and hockey. Geoffrey Godbey, professor emeritus of recreation, park and tourism management at Penn State, noted that team activities also greatly dissipated as people aged.

However, Godbey continued that America is the fattest country in the world, which is why more people should worry about their fitness levels.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are a number of diseases that people who are obese could be at risk of. Some of the risks that come with being at an unhealthy weight include arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and even some cancers.

Of course, there is a way to prevent obesity – exercise more. People may want to consider hitting the interlocking soft mats of the gym and break a sweat.

Beach season is right around the corner, meaning more people are heading to the gym to pump some iron and slim down just in time to work on their tans. Of course, gym owners can make sure they’re prepared to handle the larger than normal crowds by cleaning the equipment, anti fatigue mats and showers.

New research from the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests that you don’t need to worry about going after the heavy barbells, instead light weights are just as good for building muscles and getting stronger.

“We found that loads that were quite heavy and comparatively light were equally effective at inducing muscle growth and promoting strength,” says Cam Mitchell, one of the lead authors of the study and a PhD candidate in the Department of Kinesiology.

Not only are small weights great for building on one’s muscle, but gym owners may want to add more treadmills to their load, as another new study shows that jogging on a regular basis could greatly increase one’s lifespan.

A study out of the European Society of Cardiology suggests that jogging on a regular basis of one to two and a half hours per week at either a slow or average pace could increase a man’s life expectancy by 6.2 years and a woman’s by 5.6 years.

The American manufacturing industry took a tumble during the brunt of the economic recession. However, as the economy continues to improve, multiple sectors, including manufacturing, are getting a much-needed boost. While the European market may have once been promising, the Euro troubles are letting America pick up the pieces.

CNBC reports large American manufacturing companies received an influx of earnings during the first quarter of the year, as Europe continued to struggle with the debt crisis.

“The net effect is a growth cycle that is likely to favor U.S. sectors such as manufacturing,” strategists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a research note. “The US manufacturing sector may benefit from the wage constraint, cheap resources and inexpensive working capital that the post-credit crunch world provides.”

U.S. news reports that although the common thought is nothing is made in the U.S. anymore, that’s not true. The American manufacturing sector continues to be the size of China’s, and the news provider reports that it will create an additional 2 million to 3 million jobs by 2020. Not only will this create new opportunities, but it was also reportedly bring back some companies that fled overseas during the brunt of the economic crisis.

In the meantime, manufacturing managers need to ensure their workers are able to work the long hours needed for recovery. Improving overall morale through comfort is key, and anti-fatigue mats can help. Either for welding or a wet and oily work area, these mats can improve comfort for workers.

As the economy continues to climb back on its feet, many people are making their ways to the stores. Of course, this could mean long days for salespeople, which is why managers may want to make sure to have some anti fatigue mats with a bubble top behind the register, to make sure their employees who are pulling in all of those long hours won’t be in pain during their shift.

Reuters reports that retail sales increased 0.8 percent last month, exceeding analysts’ expectations for the month. However, it was still a slight drop from February, which enjoyed a 1 percent growth. This growth is helping the economy, as the news provider reports that consumer spending makes up for more than two-thirds of total U.S. economic activity.

“The economy is building a positive cycle of growing demand, improving labor market conditions and rising confidence,” said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania, told the news provider.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports that analysts had previously suggested March’s sales would only grow by a mere 0.3 percent. Economists are saying that despite the growing gasoline costs, Americans are continuing their confidence, resulting in higher sales. Some of the brands to experience a jolt in sales last month include Gap and Target. Overall, the retail sector had a 3.9 percent gain, up from the predicted 3.3 percent gain.