lululemon's Global Wellbeing Report Shows the Pressure to Keep Up with Wellbeing is Making People Feel Unwell

lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) today released its fourth annual 2024 Global Wellbeing Report¹, revealing a perpetual and counterproductive cycle where the relentless pursuit of wellbeing is making us less well. While the focus on wellbeing is stronger than ever - 90% of people in Asia Pacific (APAC) are taking more action than they were a year ago to improve their wellbeing - so is the crippling pressure to keep up. Nearly two-thirds of respondents are struggling with this growing societal demand to support their wellbeing in specific ways. This pressure is causing almost half of respondents to experience wellbeing burnout.

The data highlights that through the simple act of moving with others, individuals can feel more connected to their communities, become rooted in purpose, and improve overall wellbeing. Anchored on this finding, lululemon launches its 'Together we grow' campaign in support of World Mental Health Day - featuring a curation of inspiring stories from ambassadors, collective activations, and a community challenge with the goal of reaching "1 million minutes of movement." Through the challenge, the brand will unlock complimentary movement classes through its collaborators and community partners. 'Together we grow' taps lululemon's ambassador collective, including actor Park Seo Jun, CrossFit athlete Amotti, and founder of KAAIAA holistic-wellness program, Leah Simmons, to help inspire and support men and younger generations who have proved to struggle the most with wellbeing burnout.

"We are pleased to share new insights into the state of wellbeing around the world," said Calvin McDonald, CEO, lululemon. "By sharing these insights, we hope to stimulate conversations and encourage people to reflect on how to support their wellbeing. The data shows us that moving with others and feeling a sense of community can positively impact how a person feels, and we look forward to bringing our guests and communities around the world together throughout the year to do just that."

Despite this continued prioritization of wellbeing, the Wellbeing Index Scores, measured across physical, mental and social dimensions, have remained stagnant globally and regionally over the past four years; underscoring a need for a change in the approach to improving wellbeing. The data highlights the top pressure points fueling the wellbeing cycle:

• 62% of those surveyed say they experience overwhelming societal expectations to appear well.
• 54% say there is a lot of conflicting information about the best ways to improve wellbeing.
• 90% of those experiencing wellbeing burnout say loneliness is a contributing factor.

Who's Feeling the Most Burnt Out?

While people across the globe are straining under the pressure to be well, certain markets and groups in APAC are experiencing the most wellbeing burnout.

• Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore) rank among the top "wellbeing burn zones" with the highest levels of wellbeing burnout in the region.
• Men are feeling the effects of wellbeing burnout on a greater scale than women, with 43% of men in the region reporting heightened feelings of loneliness (vs. 38% of women).
• Younger generations feel this pressure more acutely than older generations, with 76% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials reporting they feel pressure to be well (vs. 58% of Gen X and 45% of Boomer+).

How Are People Coping with These Wellbeing Challenges?

While the data highlights the wellbeing pressures, an intersection of community and movement can help break the cycle and improve wellbeing. Through the simple act of moving with others, individuals can feel more connected to their communities, become rooted in purpose and improve overall wellbeing by 16%.

The research highlights the various tactics employed by different demographics to reduce wellbeing pressure and help them break free of the perpetual wellbeing dilemma.

• Men in APAC are utilizing movement to support their mental wellbeing and stay connected with their communities:
  • 82% of men recognize the importance of moving their bodies for their mental wellbeing.
  • 57% of men benefit from working out as an opportunity to socialize with others and gain a sense of belonging.
• Meanwhile, 70% of Gen Z understand the importance of weaving in physical activity by moving their body in small ways throughout the day

As a brand rooted in community and movement, lululemon announced a $3.1M USD commitment to United for Global Mental Health, The Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health, led by UNICEF² and UNICEF's Global Mental Health Fund, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to continue their work in advancing mental health across the globe, with a sharpened focus on the intersection of movement and mental health.

"Despite the societal pressures that people are feeling, it is heartening to see more people taking action to improve their wellbeing," said Gareth Pope, Senior Vice President, lululemon, Asia Pacific. "Given the importance of physical movement and community, as highlighted in the latest Global Wellbeing Report, the 'Together we grow' campaign is rooted in encouraging everyone to move and connect with each other. Drawing on lululemon's commitment to uplifting the wellbeing of all, we are dedicated to creating more opportunities for guests to make positive strides in their journeys."

To view the lululemon 2024 Global Wellbeing Report, please visit:  https://corporate.lululemon.com/~/media/Files/L/Lululemon/our-impact/lululemon-2024-global-wellbeing-report.pdf

To build upon the success of the 'Together we grow' campaign and further promote a culture of wellbeing in Thailand, lululemon is thrilled to host a special event in celebration of World Mental Health Day at CentralwOrld Atrium on October 26-27, 2024. Join us in immersive experiences through a variety of wellbeing classes across Yoga, CrossFit, Body Combat, Zumba. These classes are designed to inspire and enhance the wellbeing of the Thai community.

Discover the power of movement and mindfulness as you connect with a supportive community, for more information, please follow @lululemonsoutheastasia on Instagram and Facebook.

To find out more about lululemon's new 'Together we grow' campaign and sign up for the 'Together we grow' Challenge, please visit: https://www.lululemon.com.hk/en-th/c/community/together-we-grow

¹ lululemon launched its annual Global Wellbeing Report in 2021 to help guide its ongoing work in support of its brand purpose and achieving the Be Well goals outlined in its Impact Agenda. The 15-market study benchmarks the state of wellbeing globally and explores the drivers and barriers to being well mentally, physically, and socially. Research was fielded April 22, 2024, to May 30, 2024, and included 16,000 general population adults globally (1,000 within each of the following 15 markets: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong S.A.R., Thailand and Japan; and 2,000 within China Mainland).

_² UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.