Anthea Rowan

Published: 12 Jan 2025

A rise in active gym memberships, participation in personal and small group training, and rates of older adults using health clubs indicates that the fitness market continues to rebound after the Covid-19 pandemic, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) says in its 2025 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends report.

Now is the time of the year when we consider how we might switch up our lifestyle habits for better health, says Silvano Zanuso, head of the scientific research department in Hong Kong for fitness equipment manufacturing company Technogym.

“It’s clear that the fitness scene is moving towards more personalised, accessible and data-based experiences,” says Zanuso, who is also a visiting professor for the faculty of science at the University of Greenwich in London, England.

Are you looking to boost your cardio fitness? To be stronger? To lose weight? These are all in the spotlight.

Silvano Zanuso is the head of the scientific research department for fitness equipment manufacturing company Technogym. Photo: Technogym

“This year’s trends reflect a dynamic shift towards a more inclusive, scientifically backed, and connected approach to fitness,” he says.

Here is a look at three global trends identified in the ACSM report.

1. Wearable technology advances

The field of wearable technology is constantly advancing and allows real-time self-monitoring and feedback from devices such as fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors and GPS tracking devices, the report says about its No 1 ranked trend.

We have been wearing them to count our steps and track our sleep for years, but now smartwatches and other devices are getting even smarter.

Some Apple Watch versions can detect when you have had a hard fall and will tap you on the wrist, sound an alarm and display an alert. Photo: Apple

They do not just record how far or how fast you run, for example, but also provide data about optimal recovery time. They can support healthy lifestyle behaviour change through goal setting, personalised coaching, or connecting with apps to provide actionable insights, the report adds.

Rather than merely tracking – our steps, our heart rates, our sleep time – advanced devices have biometric sensors that detect signs of fatigue and can flag potential injury risk.

Some Apple Watch versions, for example, can detect when the wearer has had a hard fall and will tap them on the wrist, sound an alarm and display an alert. They can choose to contact emergency services or tap “I’m OK”.

We are consistently working multiple muscle groups and joints to become stronger, more flexible and mobile, which means as we get older, we are more mobile and agile

Trang Do of F45 Training in Hong Kong explains functional fitness

Advances in AI enable some devices to provide real-time feedback during workouts, making them the ultimate virtual personal trainer worn on your wrist.

Some of the latest versions integrate your personal data with fitness apps and the systems your personal trainer or health club use.

This sort of data collection – and data training – means that you, with your personal trainer, can adjust workout intensity, length and frequency for optimal fitness.

Trang Do is the general manager of Hong Kong’s F45 Training gym in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: F45 Training

2. Functional fitness for enhanced everyday living

Also known as functional training, this is a form of fitness training in which the movements or exercises mimic everyday activities, says Trang Do, general manager of Hong Kong’s F45 Training gym in Tsim Sha Tsui, in Kowloon.

Squats are an example, as they are similar to the action of sitting down, as are lunges that replicate the movements in walking or running.

The idea behind functional training, Trang says, “is that we are consistently working multiple muscle groups and joints to become stronger, more flexible and mobile, which means as we get older, we are more mobile and agile, therefore improving longevity and quality of life”.

We all experience sarcopenia – the loss of muscle mass and strength – as we age, she says. “The more muscle we can build or maintain earlier in our lives, the more it helps with longevity and quality of life as we age.”

Lunges, which replicate the movements we make when walking or running, are an example of functional fitness exercises. Photo: Shutterstock

A typical F45 functional training session lasts 45 minutes and incorporates movements such as “squats for sitting down, dead lifts to mimic bending over correctly to pick up heavy items, and even a sled push to mimic pushing a pram or shopping trolley”, Trang says.

Many functional fitness exercises can be carried out using only body weight, without the need for a gym or equipment, focusing first on the movement pattern and posture, she says. “We can of course add weights to build muscle mass and improve bone density further.”

3. Fitness for older adults to safeguard independence

The development of fitness programmes for older people is a growing trend.

Ivan Corsi, founder of the personal training gym Athletic Club in Hong Kong, describes fitness as a “powerful tool” for long-term health.

Ivan Corsi is the founder of the personal training gym Athletic Club in Hong Kong. Photo: Athletic Club

“Regular exercise, especially strength training and cardiovascular activities, helps prevent chronic diseases, maintain muscle mass, and support cognitive function,” he says.

Plenty of research highlights the value of physical activity for older people.

Fitness is known to protect brain health and promote heart health, and the two go hand in hand.

Maintaining strength staves off frailty which predisposes a person to falls that hasten and worsen the experience of ageing.

Being part of a fitness group helps to foster a sense of community and support, crucial for maintaining motivation and even supporting cognition in older people; loneliness in old age is a risk factor for dementia.

Super fit 79-year-old woman becomes gym pro after cancer

Corsi has seen more older clients embrace fitness as they recognise its benefits for overall well-being.

It is never too late to start working out, he reminds us: “With proper guidance, anyone can build strength, improve mobility and enhance their quality of life.”

For old people, carefully designed exercises can significantly improve health to safeguard their independence. Strength training movements such as modified squats, step-ups, and single-leg stances help maintain muscle mass, bone density and stability, reducing the risk of falls. Flexibility exercises also support mobility and prevent stiffness.

These exercises can be adapted to address any age-related or other limitations. With expert guidance and a well-structured plan, people of any age can safely build strength, improve mobility – and gain confidence.

Investing in fitness is not just about feeling good today – it is about securing long-term independence, vitality and a fulfilling life.

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Anthea Rowan

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Anthea Rowan has written for papers and magazines on almost every continent and on a huge variety of subjects, from travel in Africa to mental illness in the States