ACSM’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends is a valuable tool for exercise professionals. As programming and service demands evolve, the fitness industry’s response must match consumers’ needs. The 2020 survey predicted wearable technology, high-intensity interval training, and group training as potential trends ahead of the global pandemic (¹). But in 2021 and 2022, we saw online training, home exercise gyms, and outdoor activities grab the spotlight as local mandates governed nonessential gatherings of large groups (^2,3). As epidemiological studies documenting factors leading to the high morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 patients emerged, global consumer surveys revealed an increasing priority on health and wellness. In the 2023 survey, fitness programs for older adults (#4) and functional fitness training (#5) moved into the top 10 (⁴). Strength training moved up to #2 (previously #4 in 2022). Notably, specific trends added in response to quarantine mandates, such as online live exercise classes, fell out of the top 10 trends list in 2023. New to the 2024 survey were potential trends that acknowledge the bold return to in-person fitness, such as boutique fitness studios and subscription-based memberships.

The results of this annual survey guide fitness industry decision-makers. Data are gathered from thousands of researchers and practitioners to determine health and fitness trends for the following year. The first survey was conducted in 2006 by Walter R. Thompson, Ph.D., FACSM, and determined predictions for 2007 (⁵). For the past 18 years, the ACSM trends have been used to support the investment in personnel, equipment, and facilities (see supplemental data, Appendix 1, https://links.lww.com/FIT/A334, for a comparison of the top 10 trends from the past 18 years’ surveys). Many regions use these trends to investigate their own industry directions (^6,7). Previously, these trends have been collected and reported separately (^8–10) (see sidebar).

Sidebar: New for this Year

• ACSM’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends is combined with the fitness trends from around the globe for a holistic snapshot of the direction of the fitness industry for 2024.
• We compare the results from the ACSM survey to data collected in other regions of the world to understand the magnitude of these trends.
• Eight trend categories were created to organize individual fitness trends and offer a thematic presentation of fitness trends that may be related.
• Readers will enjoy a more comprehensive discussion to inform business decisions.

THE SURVEY

This year’s trends survey honored the history of the original worldwide trends survey while offering enhanced validity and reliability. Industry experts reviewed trends from the 2023 survey for inclusion, and potentially emerging trends were identified through a literature review and a pilot study. The pilot study (n = 16) comprised representatives from commercial, community, medical, and academic organizations. Participants in the pilot study were primarily men (56%), with a mean age of 49 years, living/working in North America, South America, and Europe.

For the 2024 survey, there were 45 possible trends across eight categories (see below). Trend categories were designed to create a context for survey participants to understand the individual trend items better. In addition, a brief description of each trend was provided to improve interpretation. The online survey was disseminated via Qualtrics^XM and was completed on average in 18 minutes. Similar to previous years, an incentive to participate was made available to 10 randomly selected winners. Turn to page 30 to see this year’s prize winners. Incentives included fitness-related books and study materials published by Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins and Human Kinetics and a $100 Mastercard^® gift card.

Trend items were measured using a 10-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (not a trend) to 10 (definitely a trend). Participants also were provided a comment box to add qualitative data about the eight trend categories or potential items omitted from the current survey for future consideration. The online survey was emailed to ACSM certified professionals, ACSM alliance members, ACSM professional members, HFJ associate editors, and HFJ editorial board members (N = 24,566). A link also was provided on the HFJ web site and social media platforms, including this Journal’s Facebook page and the ACSM Instagram. After duplicates and incomplete data lines were removed, a final sample size of 1,997 was used to determine the 2024 ACSM Top 20 Trends.

Survey respondents represent a variety of occupations within the fitness industry (Table 1), with 22% indicating they were employed as full-time or part-time personal trainers. Participants were 51% men with a mean age of 39.2 years. Approximately half of the participants have 1 to 6 years of experience working in the fitness industry, which indicates a slightly less experienced demographic than previous years. Table 2 also shows the education level and primary work setting for respondents.

ACSM SURVEY RESULTS

This report for 2024 describes the top 20 potential trends defined in ACSM’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends (Table 3). As in previous years, the order of trends is dynamic and reflects the changing needs of the fitness industry, although others may seem to be relatively static for a duration of time. Wearable technology has been the #1 trend each year since 2016 (with the exception of #3 for 2018 and #2 for 2021). Worksite health promotion had been ousted from the top 20 for many years (#27 for 2021, #28 for 2022, #30 for 2023) but comes in at #2 for 2024. Three of the four digital technology trends emerge in the top 20, which may indicate a continued focus on connectivity and feedback for improved fitness behaviors and outcomes. Employing certified fitness professionals, the #6 trend, moves toward the top of the trends list (#9 for 2023, #13 for 2022).

1. Wearable Technology. Wearable technology is the #1 trend and has been a mainstay in the top 3 trends since 2016. Wearable technology includes a variety of devices that a person can wear or attach to themselves and are commonly connected to a smartphone. This technology provides real-time information such as heart rate, step counts, active minutes, and sleep time. Wearable technology allows exercise professionals to further individualize day-to-day physical activity for their clients, tracking patterns, performance, and progress over time (¹¹).
2. Worksite Health Promotion. Worksite health promotion is new to the trends list at #2. This seems to further support an increased interest in health and quality of life, which impacts many areas, including workplace productivity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American will spend approximately one-third of their life at the workplace when participating in a 40-hour work week. Employers have an opportunity to encourage health-promoting behaviors (e.g., physical activity and preventative screenings). These benefits often lower insurance costs, increase workplace productivity, and improve mental health (¹²). Some examples of worksite health promotion include access to fitness facilities, employee athletic leagues, and health education classes.
3. Fitness Programs for Older Adults. Increasing fitness program options for older adults moves up to #3. The 2021 Profile of Older Americans reports a 38% increase in Americans aged 65 and older since 2010, with approximately 27% of this population living independently (¹³). The older adult population of Americans is projected to continue its growth through 2040. Aging increases the risk of chronic illness, cognitive impairment, and falls in this population. Regular aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity is an essential strategy for reducing the impact of disease, maintaining independence, and improving quality of life throughout the aging process.
4. Exercise for Weight Loss. Exercise for weight loss comes in at #4 (#8 for 2023). It is being recognized that regular exercise is a contributor to improving metabolic function and reducing body fat. Exercise should include aerobic activity, strength training, and accompany dietary changes to create a caloric deficit. Exercise aids in preserving lean body mass through weight loss efforts and helps consumers maintain long-term weight loss.
5. Reimbursement for Qualified Exercise Professionals (QEPs). This trend appears at #5 and is a revised trend from previous years, which advocated for licensure for QEPs. Licensure never peaked in the top 10, and significant policy-level barriers exist that make licensure less realistic for the fitness industry in many regions worldwide. However, reimbursement for the services that QEPs are trained to provide supports recognition of exercise professionals (i.e., personal trainers and exercise physiologists) as a part of the health-care continuum. An ACSM Task Force was formed in 2021 to advocate for policy change allowing insurance billing for patient services performed by QEPs within their scope of practice to improve physical activity outcomes and quality of life (¹⁴).
6. Employing Certified Exercise Professionals. Employing certified professionals, appearing at #6 for 2024, has been a consistent top 10 trend. Health and fitness companies recognize the importance of hiring trained professionals to lead fitness programs. Obtaining an accredited certification communicates to consumers that a professional has obtained proficient knowledge to support them with their fitness goals. Certified professionals can be trusted to have the minimum skill level to safely prescribe exercise within their scope of practice. Maintaining accredited certifications requires evidence of continued education, which is important for decreasing injury risk for consumers and reducing liability for employers. To find a certified exercise professional near you, check the US Registry of Exercise Professionals (https://usreps.org/). To look at certifications available through ACSM go to: https://www.acsm.org/certification/get-certified.
7. Mobile Exercise Apps. Mobile exercise apps break into the top 10 trends list at #7. It is a part of the digital technology trend category. This trend first appeared in the top 20 at number 17 in 2016, under the name Smart phone exercise apps. The use of mobile exercise apps allows for flexibility in program delivery. Exercise apps have impacted the market with many unique options for consumers and demonstrate effectiveness in increasing physical activity for users. Consumers can use mobile apps to track exercise activities and receive feedback on performance. Some apps integrate mechanisms for social support and provide tips for behavioral skill acquisition, both key components of health behavior change theory.
8. Exercise for Mental Health. Programming exercise for improved mental health lands at #8 as individuals begin to acknowledge the importance of movement on cognition and mood. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Approximately one in every eight individuals globally is affected to varying degrees by mental illness (WHO), and regular exercise can serve as a protective factor. Physical activity and exercise can boost mood and improve mental health (¹⁵). ACSM offers resources to exercise professionals for incorporating physical activity to support mental health.
9. Youth Athletic Development. The #9 trend represents an approach to youth training that focuses on developing motor skills, strength, and coordination. There is a rise in training facilities and programs such as KidStrong^® designed to improve confidence, develop social skills, and enhance sports performance. Children and adolescents learn basic movement patterns and prepare for skill acquisition. Exercise professionals should consider continuing education or specialty training when working with this special population.
10. Personal Training. As the #10 trend, personal training has remained a staple in the top 10 fitness trends list since its inception in 2007. Personal training provides one-on-one training involving fitness testing, goal setting, and program implementation. Consumers may benefit from this service to learn effective exercise selection, safety, and recovery methods. Earning a nationally accredited credential such as those certifications offered by ACSM can prepare exercise professionals to work with a variety of clients.
11. Lifestyle Medicine. With increased consumer and industry focus on both longevity and health span (high quality of life years), it is no surprise that lifestyle medicine has moved up five spots this year to #11. Lifestyle medicine first appeared at #16 in 2020 (#18 for 2021, #19 for 2022, #16 for 2023). ​​Lifestyle medicine promotes healthy behaviors as the foundation of health promotion, disease prevention, and medical treatment. Increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary behavior are general recommendations for improving health outcomes for all people with chronic disease. Examples of targeted patient behaviors align with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Life’s Essential 8, and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine recommends additional priorities such as improving nutrition, reducing stress, and enhancing social well-being.
12. Outdoor Fitness Activities. Outdoor fitness activities lands at #12 for 2024. While this trend debuted as #25 in 2010, outdoor fitness activities jumped to higher ranking spots in the last several years (#4 for 2021, #3 for 2022, and #6 for 2023) due to COVID-19–related restrictions. Even as the industry finds a “new normal,” participation in fitness activities outdoors seems to be a mainstay for many brands and exercise professionals. Activities occur in public parks, plazas, or hiking trails and are led by exercise professionals. This trend supports single-day or multiday events involving running, biking, or leisure sports and encourages community engagement and social well-being.
13. Health and Wellness Coaching. This trend has not appeared in the top 20 since 2010 and is the #13 trend for 2024. Health and wellness coaches integrate behavioral science principles and theories into health promotion and lifestyle medicine programs, helping bridge the gap between the clinic and community. The model positions the client as the authority on his or her behavior-change journey while the coaching professional partners to provide support and feedback using evidence-based behavior-change techniques. Coaching sessions can be individual or small group. ACSM’s partnership with Wellcoaches continues to offer certified exercise professionals with evidence-based resources to facilitate changes in mindset and behaviors surrounding physical activity. Find more resources for professional health coaching here:https://www.acsm.org/certification/professional-resources/wellcoaches.
14. Functional Fitness Training. Falling to #14 for 2024 (#5 for 2023) is functional fitness training. This trend is a training modality that improves balance, coordination, functional strength, and endurance to enhance activities of daily living. These types of programs reflect activities the client might do during the day to maintain or improve physical function and independence (¹⁶). While developing muscular strength and power and improving balance and proprioception is essential for all adults, it is especially important for older adults and clinical populations. Because the older adult population exhibits low physical activity levels, on average, exercise professionals and industry companies should continue to prioritize functional training that reduces the risk of cardiometabolic disease, improves physical function, and the ability to live independently for longer.
15. Yoga. Yoga lands at the #15 spot in the 2024 trends list. Mindfulness practice is a great way to reduce feelings of stress, improve mental wellness, and promote self-awareness. As a training modality, yoga is scalable for many fitness levels and safe for special populations. Most commonly done in group class settings with a live instructor, traditional yoga includes styles such as Hatha, Vinyasa, and Bikram. Power yoga (aka: Vinyasa) combines traditional flows with an added strength focus, whereas restorative formats (i.e., Hatha) aim to be slower and more relaxing. Yoga is now available across several settings, including boutique fitness studios and community recreation centers, but can be done individually using on-demand platforms.
16. Exercise is Medicine^® (EIM). As a global health initiative that appears as the #16 trend for 2024, EIM encourages health-care providers to include physical activity assessment and treatment as a standard of care when administering a care plan for patients. EIM recognizes that certified exercise professionals are an integral part of the health-care continuum. The multilevel campaign promotes awareness and education of physical activity and suggests that it should be recognized as a vital sign of health. Registered EIM programs create a structure for physicians to refer patients to evidence-based exercise programs and qualified exercise professionals. ACSM is engaged in significant advocacy work with strategic partners like the AHA and the American Council on Exercise to promote physical activity in health-care policy.
17. Traditional Strength Training. This trend is a fundamental component of ACSM’s exercise guidelines but has declined considerably since 2020, coming in at #17 for the 2024 survey (#4 for 2022 and #2 for 2023). Focusing on proper movement and lifting technique, traditional strength training incorporates barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells to improve or maintain muscular fitness by manipulating repetitions, sets, tempo, load, and exercise selection to reach different muscular fitness goals. Given the well-documented mental and physical benefits of strength training, boutique studios and big box gyms continue to innovate and promote strength training-based group exercise class formats, with MindBody Online categorizing strength training as an industry-wide top trend.
18. Data-Driven Training Technology. This trend was added as a new potential trend for 2024. It appears as the #18 trend and demonstrates the significance of digital technology within the fitness industry. Clients can use real-time data output, such as heart rate, velocity, and speed, to guide their workout experiences. This type of training allows for individualized coaching and instruction even in a group setting where there may be various fitness levels, with only one exercise professional. Real-time feedback during a workout educates clients on the links between exercise programming and physiological output and helps clients self-monitor effort and intensity within and between sessions. Certified exercise professionals must stay abreast of the digital health and connected fitness landscape, leaning into data-driven training to enhance or diversify program offerings.
19. Online Personal Training. Online personal training fell out of the top 20 in 2023 but returned to the list at #19 for 2024. Online personal training uses digital technology to deliver online individual and group instructional exercise programs. It may include interactive, live training sessions or asynchronous/prerecorded workout template programs from a certified exercise professional. This trend equips certified professionals with a more efficient and convenient way to reach more consumers with their training programs and expertise. In addition, online personal training may improve accessibility of services to those experiencing barriers to meeting physical activity guidelines, such as perceived lack of knowledge, time, access to facilities, and social support (¹⁷).
20. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Dropping to #20 for 2024 (#7 for 2023), HIIT involves repeated bouts of short, near-maximum effort exercise (>80% maximum heart rate), followed by longer active or passive recovery periods. Recognized for its health benefits like improved peak aerobic capacity, improved cardiovascular health, and better insulin sensitivity, HIIT workouts can be programmed using various equipment options like treadmills, rowers, or bikes (¹⁸). The HIIT programming is heart rate-based training that can be customized to meet all fitness levels’ needs. It is attractive because it is time-efficient for individual or group environments. The training modality has shown cardiorespiratory fitness benefits for some special populations with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or certain cancers.

GLOBAL TRENDS COMPARISON

Other countries and regions use ACSM’s fitness trends survey to collect data to provide a global perspective. Ten regions contributed unique data that support a more comprehensive understanding of the future of the health and fitness industry. International partners from Australia (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A325), Brazil (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A326), Europe (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A328), Mexico (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A330), Portugal (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A331), Spain (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A332), and the United States return to collaborate on this project. New for the 2024 edition of the global fitness trends comparison are colleagues from Chile (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A327), Italy (https://links.lww.com/FIT/A329), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE, https://links.lww.com/FIT/A333). Please see the country- or region-specific graphics throughout this article for more details regarding the trends globally. Each graphic includes a link to supplemental data provided by our international partners from each country/region. The top 10 fitness trends from each region can be found in supplemental Appendix 2, https://links.lww.com/FIT/A335. Here, we offer a narrative discussion on the trends that might have an impact globally.

Exercise for improved health outcomes is steering the direction of the fitness industry across the globe. Exercise for weight loss appears among the top five trends in 7 of the 10 regions (#6 in Spain, #9 in Italy). The increasing prevalence of obesity and its emergence as a global public health issue may play a critical role in the emergence of trends related to reducing obesity-related morbidities. Exercise should be a component of weight loss and weight maintenance programs. These programs are often more effective with individualized services such as personal training. Personal training is ranked in the top five trends in all regions except the United States (#10 for 2024) and Australia. This demonstrates a need for exercise professionals to understand the components of fitness programming, improved health, and represents an opportunity for enhanced business development and marketing resources for the fitness industry globally.

The EIM and lifestyle medicine trends are prominent in the top 10, further indicating that integrating exercise into health care may be on the rise in 2024. For older adults, increasing fitness through regular activity can protect against chronic disease progression, improve cognitive/physical function, increase capacity for independent living, and support social well-being during aging. Muscle-strengthening exercise is particularly critical to reducing fall risk in this population and is suggested to be a significant trend across the globe in the coming year. Trends related to health and special populations seem strong, promoting a promising collaboration between the medical and fitness communities to support public health through physical activity and exercise.

The fitness industry is more regulated in some countries and regions than others. However, employing registered or certified exercise professionals is among the top 10 trends in 7 of the 10 regions (#2 in Portugal and Spain, #4 in Chile and UAE). Because some inherent risks are involved with beginning an exercise program for consumers, fitness business models across the globe can improve service quality and address risks by hiring highly trained exercise professionals to support clients.

Wearable technology maintains its #1 position in the United States but fell a few spots to #9 in Australia (#6 for 2023). In the UAE, wearable technology ranked #10. The wearable technology trend appears only once in recent global trends reports (#4 in Europe for 2022). Digital technology trends no longer have a strong influence on the fitness industry from a global perspective. This region-specific trend may have potential cultural and socioeconomic factors contributing to differences. It is plausible that the wearable technology industry globally promotes autonomy in activities, creating a distinction between consumer-driven and industry-driven fitness activity. Therefore, this survey of exercise professional perspectives may not capture how wearable technology impacts the fitness industry. Wearable technology markets continue to rise globally, and a survey of consumer perspectives may solicit different trends for the fitness industry. The fitness industry should explore leveraging personal wearable devices to enhance consumer behaviors.

Australians have embraced a return to group training (#3 for 2024). This trend ranked #4 for 2023 and 2022. Group training was not a top trend for 2021, presumably directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend was highly ranked in Europe, Spain, and Portugal. Group training typically costs less than one-on-one personal training services and positively impacts adherence and motivation for some clients. This type of programming offers clients guidance and support and may be an alternative to personal training.

Functional fitness training sits on top of the Spanish survey results. This training modality is ranked #4 in Australia and Brazil and #5 in Mexico. It should be noted that functional fitness training appears in the top 20 trends for all regions represented in this year’s global survey. This is a recurring theme consistent with past global trend surveys and reinforces the demand for exercise that supports daily activities of living. Functional fitness training improves movement patterns, addresses muscular imbalances, and can help protect against injuries.

LIMITATIONS

This survey continues to offer powerful insight into the future of the health and fitness industry, but there are a few methodological limitations to consider. First, the dissemination of the survey differed from previous iterations and does not allow for an accurate comparison of response rates to previous years. In addition, readers should use caution when comparing all trends between regions. Some regions included additional trend items unique to that specific region. Therefore, some trends are not compared in every region for the global comparison. It is important to acknowledge these regional differences while appreciating the impact that looking broadly at trend categories has for supporting exercise professionals working globally. Finally, participants in this survey are exercise professionals working in the fitness industry as researchers and practitioners. Readers should note that perspectives on trends may be different for consumers.

SUMMARY

The fitness industry is a dynamic space, and this global survey is important for exercise professionals and industry leaders. Trends for 2024 indicate that the fitness industry has the potential for a greater impact on health outcomes, including mental health. There is promise for enhanced collaboration with the creation of multidisciplinary teams in medical care that include qualified exercise professionals. Trends such as personal training and functional fitness training remain relevant to the fitness space globally.

The increase in international partners contributing to the global trends perspective makes this a robust comparison of trends as the world moves toward a new normal postpandemic. For the first time, there is synergy between ACSM’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends and the Global Fitness Trends articles, which have provided invaluable information for many years. Combining these manuscripts allows readers to explore fitness trends with a holistic lens. In addition, the creation of trend categories for the ACSM survey offers readers a broad understanding of the aspects of the fitness industry that could potentially drive the market in 2024, which is important for business development, resource allocation, and professional development planning.