THE TOP 15 FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2024
The most popular fitness trends change every year. Compare the 2024 survey with last year’s post, The Top 15 Fitness Trends for 2023.
Here are excerpts from the 18th annual survey from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), published in its Health & Fitness Journal, Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2024:
For the last 18 years, the editors of this Journal have developed and circulated an electronic survey sent to thousands of professionals around the world to predict trends in the health and fitness industry for the following year.
This report for 2024 describes the top potential trends defined in ACSM’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends. 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 (except #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. Mobile exercise apps at #7 reinforce the emerging digital technology trends, 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).
Here’s information about the top 15 fitness trends you’ll see this year.
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.
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. 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. 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. The older adult population of Americans is projected to continue its growth through 2040. 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, and strength training, and accompany dietary changes to create a caloric deficit.
5. Reimbursement for Qualified Exercise Professionals (QEPs)., 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.
6. Employing Certified Exercise Professionals. Employing certified professionals 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. Maintaining accredited certifications requires evidence of continuing education, which is important for decreasing injury risk for consumers and reducing liability for employers.
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 Smartphone 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
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.. Physical activity and exercise can boost mood and improve mental health.
9. Youth Athletic Development. This 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 designed to improve confidence, develop social skills, and enhance sports performance. Children and adolescents learn basic movement patterns and prepare for skill acquisition.
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.
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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 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.
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. 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. 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 the community. The model positions the client as the authority on his or her behavior-change journey while the coaching professional partners provide support and feedback using evidence-based behavior-change techniques. Coaching sessions can be individual or small group.
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. 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.
15. Yoga.. 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, yoga is available across several settings, including boutique fitness studios and community recreation centers, but can be done individually using on-demand platforms.