Accompanying the good intentions of January and after the holiday feasts, the global fitness trends arrive, published annually by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This organization, founded in 1954, is dedicated to promoting research, education, and the application of sports and exercise sciences to improve well-being and physical performance. It brings together doctors, researchers, educators, trainers, physiotherapists, and other health and sports professionals. Hence, its predictions are so influential in the sector.
This decalogue guides the industry with data collected from thousands of researchers and professionals. "This article is published annually and generates global interest to know where the fitness world is heading. This year, technology stands out once again, as thanks to it, we can record our vital parameters, followed by training applications, which have been on the rise since Covid," explains Francisco Ruiz, CEO of CrossFit Coraje and creator of the entrepreneurship program Boxes Prep. According to the expert, it is noteworthy how strength training is gaining importance among the older population and the community of women, who are generally called to dance classes like Zumba and focused on cardio and weight loss.
"Increasing muscle mass is very important when caring for elderly people, especially women, who have more problems with sarcopenia and osteoporosis, especially after menopause." Other trends are more common, such as weight loss, especially at the beginning of the year, or HIIT, always effective, but for the trainer, there are more innovative trends reflected in the new models of low-cost gyms. "They are built with many machines, with very attractive lights, using gaming to be featured on social media."
Activities like yoga or mindfulness are also making their way. "These are workouts that make us very present in the here and now, hence their popularity," says Ruiz. On the other hand, Andrea de Ayala, a trainer at smart-club, studio1, and in applications like the Oysho Community, emphasizes that traditional workouts will never go out of style. "Both functional fitness and strength and high-intensity intervals work globally on power, endurance, and cardio. It's not that the latest fitness trends are not important, but everything has already been invented, and these three specific workouts have been working for a lifetime. There's a reason for that."
ACSM graph with the top 10 fitness trends of 2025.
The trainer emphasizes above all the importance of sports for mental well-being. "In my experience, there are more than 50% of people who exercise to feel good, not just to achieve a certain physique. Our lives are very busy and stressful, so it's not about competing, but about finding the sport you enjoy the most to have that release. The vast majority seek to forget about anxiety and how tough the day has been. It's a focus that should never be lost," analyzes De Ayala.
Smartwatches and activity bracelets to measure our sleep, menstrual cycle days, and performance in different workouts, heart rate monitors, apps where we track meals, kilometers, or the fat and muscle percentages determined by the scale, smart rings, sensors indicating glucose... Wearable technology returns to the number one spot, a trend that has been strong for years (entered in 2016, was number three in 2018, and two in 2021). But now with more advancements.
The current improvements allow for self-monitoring and real-time feedback through devices like physical activity trackers, heart rate monitors, and GPS. These gadgets can provide comprehensive information about physical activity, health indicators, sedentary behaviors, sleep, and even stress. "They can support healthy lifestyle changes by setting goals, personalized coaching, or connecting with apps to provide actionable information," describes the ACSM.
To what extent does this help us or stress us out more? Probably, in balance lies the virtue, as it may be a source of anxiety to think that you only slept four hours one night. "Relying on these types of devices, I think, disconnects us from how we feel to focus on what that watch or heart rate monitor is telling us," adds Andrea de Ayala. However, among its advantages, for example, is having alerted in cases of a possible heart attack by warning about the pulse, and saving lives. Furthermore, in a very sedentary society, it never hurts to be reminded every hour to get up from the chair and move for five minutes.
We train connected to activity bracelets and smartwatches to measure our physical performance.Shutterstock
In line with the previous trend, the platforms and apps that emerged during the pandemic due to the impossibility of gathering for exercise have remained. They continue to rise in the list (positioned at seven in 2024 and 20 in 2023) and seem to be a more important trend among exercise professionals with more experience, who do not need as many corrections.
"In 2023, there were 850 million downloads of fitness apps by almost 370 million users," notes the ACSM. More and more entrepreneurs are encouraged to create different projects. In Spain, we have examples like Entrena Virtual by Vikika Costa, Blue Bamboo by Paula González, Ffitcocohouse by Cocó Constans, Push by Crys Dyaz, Elifitdance by Elisa Díaz... Cons? Perhaps it is not the ideal method for beginners who need a very present guide. Pros? Many. From eliminating the excuse of "I don't have time to exercise" to instilling good habits in children at home by example.
apps, which allow me to reach more people, I am one of those traditional trainers who are guided more by sensations and logic. I still find face-to-face meetings vital," adds De Ayala.
3. FITNESS PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
There is increasing awareness of the importance of training for aging with quality of life. The development of fitness programs for older adults maintains its place as trend number three and takes the bronze. Regular physical activity for this population remains a crucial strategy for maintaining overall health, preventing chronic diseases, and promoting independent living.
Gyms are not only filled with young people who want to look good physically, but the offer is very wide, and profiles cover all ages. Healthy back, gentle gymnastics, or stretching sessions attract people in sports centers and municipal facilities who may not dare to enter a weight room, although even CrossFit boxes confirm the growth of their older audience who dare to experience the benefits of high intensity.
You can train with your own body weight and a simple mat or rely on external elements like dumbbells or kettlebells to work on strength.Shutterstock
Although we are beginning to see the more playful side of sports even at a mental level, the social discourse of moving to lose weight still weighs heavily (pun intended). Exercise for weight loss remains constant in the ranking. "Global obesity rates have doubled among adults, with approximately one in eight categorized as obese," notes the ACSM. In addition, obesity rates among children and adolescents "have almost quadrupled in the last 30 years." There is no choice but to remedy this through healthy eating and physical activity: much more than an hour of training.
Although the benefits of exercise are positive regardless of weight and physical fitness status, training should be included as part of a multi-component strategy for long-term weight loss maintenance, creating a habit and adherence.
All recent studies and publications insist on the importance of strength training. After falling to number 17 in the 2024 survey, it rises again in the trend list to number five due to pure evidence. "Traditional strength training, a key pillar of the ACSM exercise guidelines, incorporates equipment like bars, dumbbells, and kettlebells, focusing on proper movement and lifting technique to improve or maintain muscle condition," specifies the ACSM.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2018 recommend that adults engage in at least two days a week of strength training, covering all major muscle groups.