Wearable technology will be the top global fitness trend in 2023, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which released on Dec. 28 results from its annual international survey of 4,500 health and fitness professionals.
The survey asked fitness professionals from around the world to assess 42 potential trends, and 20 of the top trends were detailed in a report by ACSM. In addition, ACSM broke down trends for various countries, including the United States where wearable technology also came in as the No. 1 trend in 2023.
“Wearables are certainly not going anywhere,” ACSM Past President Walter R. Thompson, who served as the lead author of the survey, said in the media release. “Not only are these devices becoming more affordable, but wearable data is increasingly being used in clinical decision making so they are continuing to hold their appeal.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic decreases in severity in much of the world, online training has decreased in popularity, according to the survey. In 2020, online training came in at No. 26 on the list, but it jumped to the top trend in 2021. However, in 2022 it dropped to No. 9, and the 2023 survey put it at No. 21.
The decline in this trend ties back to the fact that individuals are returning to the gym and in many cases abandoning their home gyms, according to ACSM.
Home exercise gyms also have dropped in the list rankings. This trend ranked as No. 2 in 2022, but it fell to No. 13 in 2023.
Exercisers seem to be returning to the basics in a more post-pandemic world, based on some of the other top fitness trends.
Strength training with free weights came in as the No. 2 trend followed by body weight training at No. 3, and core training and circuit training at Nos. 11 and 12, respectively.
Other trends have remained relatively stable, regardless of the changes brought by COVID-19. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), for example, was the No. 1 trend in both 2014 and 2018, and it took the No. 7 slot in 2022 and 2023.
Fitness programs for older adults experienced fluctuations that seemed to be caused both by the pandemic and other external factors including the fact that many Baby Boomers are entering retirement and adopting a lifestyle that focuses on fitness. This trend was No. 9 in 2018, No. 4 in 2019, No. 8 in 2020, No. 9 again in 2021, No. 11 in 2022, and No. 4 in 2023.
The top 20 global trends for 2023, according to the survey are:
- Wearable Technology
- Strength Training with Free Weights
- Body Weight Training
- Fitness Programs for Older Adults
- Functional Fitness Training
- Outdoor Activities
- High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
- Exercise for Weight Loss
- Employing Certified Fitness Professionals
- Personal Training
- Core Training
- Circuit Training
- Home Exercise Gyms
- Group Exercise Training
- Exercise Is Medicine
- Lifestyle Medicine
- Yoga
- Licensure for Fitness Professionals
- Health/Well-Being Coaching
- Mobile Exercise Apps
The top four 2023 fitness trends specifically for the United States follow the global trends with wearable technology ranking No. 1, followed in order by strength training with free weights, body weight training and fitness programs for older adults. However, the No. 5 trends in the country is outdoor activities rather than functional fitness training, which ranked No. 5 globally.
Outdoor activities had ranked No. 3 in 2022 and No. 4 in 2021 for the United States.
The full list of top 20 trends is available in the article “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2023.” You can also access key takeaways from the global rankings for Australia, Brazil, Europe, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United States in “2023 Fitness Trends from around the Globe.”