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Active Overwatch 062

Whoop battles with the FDA, Travis Barker’s social running series, Fabletic's collab golf collection, and more...

Published on

July 25, 2025

by

Jake Heyen

Here’s your weekly roundup of news, trends, and stories in the health and fitness space. A list of what’s happening, new innovations, interesting finds, and more.

This week we’re covering:

  • Whoop battles with the FDA.
  • Travis Barker’s social running series.
  • Fabletic’s collab golf collection.
  • And more...

Hope you enjoy!

Recent Headlines

Whoop receives warning letter from the FDA over blood pressure insights (BPI) feature. Saying the BPI feature should not have been released. According to the FDA that feature should have been classified as a "medical device" and gone through medical review first. But Whoop disagrees, saying it is a "wellness feature" not a "medical device".

  • This Whoop vs. FDA thing is worth watching. However it shakes out could set the tone for how all wearables are regulated moving forward. And while I get Whoop’s argument that this is a “wellness feature,” there’s a balance here. The goal is to help people better understand their health, and the more data we can get into users’ hands, the better. But without any oversight, it opens the door for bad actors to launch sketchy products that mislead people. We should absolutely be pushing innovation forward, but we have to do it the right way.

Diplo's Run Club announces Ladder as their official partner. The popular events featuring a 5k run followed by a Diplo afterparty, will now be adding Ladder activations into the mix. Including a mobile gym, fun strength games, and coach meet & greets.

  • Diplo’s Run Club was kinda the first group to really nail this crossover of music and running. Last year they pulled 10,000+ people to their first event in San Francisco, and now they’re back with 8 cities and new partners like Ladder to level it up. Adding a new fitness layer and really turning this thing into a full fledged wellness festival. And I also love this as a strategic move by Ladder. As a digital fitness company, it’s a great way to show up in person, meet people where they are, and attach to something with momentum.

Travis Barker and Spotify team up for running events across the country. Called "Run Travis Run", it will be a 5k run and social series that dives into Travis Barker's relationship with music, movement and wellness. The cities include Chicago, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and Santa Monica.

  • Let’s stay on the topic of musician run club events. This feels like a real sign of the times. For so long, the entertainment and music world has been stereotyped with partying, chaos, and burnout. And sure that still happens, but now we’re seeing more artists flip the script and bring movement, wellness, and connection into their brand. With Travis Barker and Diplo being at the forefront. These aren't just random events, they're part of a cultural shift where wellness is becoming aspirational. And it’s refreshing to see big names embrace that instead of running from it.

Fabletics partners with Stephen and Erica Malbon for golf apparel collection. inspired by the great nature surrounding golf courses in America. Aimed at being for the next-gen golfers, creators, and style leaders who wear their game on and off the course.

  • A lot of activewear collabs miss the mark, but I think this one actually makes sense. Golf is having a real moment right now. It's younger, more creative, and way more present in culture than it used to be. So for Fabletics, teaming up with the Malbons is a smart shortcut to tap into that shift. It gives them cultural credibility with the next-gen golf crowd. Not just people who play, but the ones who post, create, and wear golf like it's streetwear. It’s also a reminder that collabs don’t need to reinvent the wheel, they just need to align with where culture is already heading.

David Protein launches Wild Caught Cod. A switch up from the protein bars that made David so popular. The cod is delivered frozen and raw, and contains 23g of protein and 100 calories. A slightly higher protein per calorie ratio than a David bar. And in the words of David, “We're committed to high protein, so we're selling it“.

  • Let’s be real, this cod drop was all about marketing. Cod has the best protein-to-calorie ratio of any food on earth, and David bars are just below it. So by launching cod, they basically get to say “our bars are second only to the best protein source on the planet.” It’s not about the fish, it’s about the narrative. And you know it's working when other brands are rushing to piggyback the hype. David isn’t just selling bars, they’re selling protein as a core identity. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bar or fish - protein is the ethos.

ICYMI On Social

  • The Coachella of running and fitness.
  • Activewear gets a golf makeover.
  • Best new product launches in health and fitness.
  • New F1 style running series by Bandit.
  • Last week’s health & fitness news roundup.
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