2025 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends: Future Directions of the Health and Fitness Industry

Abstract

The health and fitness industry continues to grow despite the uncertainty that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased active memberships, participation in personal and small group training, and rates of older adults utilizing health clubs indicate that the market continues to rebound (1). Further, the demand for qualified exercise professionals such as credentialed personal trainers, clinical exercise physiologists, and athletic trainers is anticipated to grow 10% to 14% by 2032 (2). Therefore, it is important that industry stakeholders (i.e., owners/operators, practitioners, and researchers) have reliable evidence on which to base business decisions and professional development opportunities. ACSM's Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends has been a highly anticipated list predicting the most important trends, with the potential to guide the future of the fitness industry, since 2006 (3). The annual survey results offer health and fitness professionals the knowledge of emerging trends and innovative modalities to better serve consumers.

The survey introduces a systematic way to predict future health and fitness trends by collecting data from professionals across key facets of the broader industry. For example, the 2021 survey predicted online training (no. 1) and wearable technology (no. 2) in response to the pandemic-related temporary closures of fitness facilities (4). In 2022, home exercise gyms (no. 2) rose to the top of the list as consumers embraced an alternative to health clubs (5). Home exercise gyms fell to the no. 13 trend in 2023 as consumers returned to in-person programming. In 2023, while the no. 1 trend remained wearable technology, other top trends reflected a shift away from virtual programming and a return to the basics of exercise modalities for health such as strength training with free weights (no. 2), body weight training (no. 3), fitness programs for older adults (no. 4), and functional fitness training (no. 5) (6).

Trends are added and removed each year to reflect both the dynamic nature of the fitness industry and the availability of literature to support their applicability. Trends can appear for several years (e.g., wearable technology) or drop off the list after only 1 year. New to this year's survey are influencer/ambassador-led fitness programs (no. 12), hot and cold therapies (no. 20), and exercise in cancer treatment (no. 29). The health and fitness industry should utilize the trends survey to support business decisions, investments, product innovation, and professional development. This annual article evaluates the predicted trends and respondent demographics to help readers determine how they may impact their unique business model.