The US Fitness Industry Looks Set for Another Strong Year in 2026

New year fitness promises are nothing new. What’s different heading into 2026 is how many Americans are treating training like a protected, planned expense, not an optional hobby.

Research shared by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA), based on a Kantar online survey fielded in December 2025 with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 US adults, points to another strong year for the health and fitness industry.

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The headline numbers

Here’s what stands out from the data:

• 54% of US adults planning to set personal goals for 2026 say they’ll focus on health, fitness, and exercise, which the article estimates at around 82 million people.
  
  

• Americans are expected to plan roughly US$60 billion in health and fitness spending this year, with an average of about US$61 per month among those with fitness goals.
  
  

• 86% say fitness facilities will be important for hitting their goals.
  
  

• 89% see regular physical activity as an effective form of preventative healthcare.

What people actually want from training in 2026

Forget vague goals like “get fit.” The biggest motivators are clear:

• Building muscle (50%)
  
  

• Improving mobility, flexibility, and posture (48%)
  
  

• Using exercise to support mental health (46%)
  
  

That mix makes sense. Authoritative public health sources consistently link regular physical activity to broad physical benefits and improved mental well-being.

Fitness spending is becoming “non-negotiable”

One of the most telling insights: only 23% of respondents said they’d reduce fitness spending if they needed to save money, while categories like dining out, travel, and entertainment were more likely to be cut.

As HFA president and CEO Liz Clark put it, people aren’t just setting goals, they’re budgeting for them, viewing exercise as an investment in long-term health.

The overlooked stat: follow-through is improving

Motivation spikes in January. Results come from consistency. The survey found that 55% of people who had health and fitness goals in 2025 said they achieved them.

That’s a strong signal for the industry, and a useful reminder for individuals: your plan matters more than your hype.

How to turn “strength, mobility, mental health” into a real plan

If you want your 2026 goals to survive beyond the first few weeks, build around the three drivers in the data:

1) Strength (build muscle)

Choose a simple progression you can repeat weekly. Coached strength sessions can remove decision fatigue and keep you consistent, such as LES MILLS Strength Development.

2) Mobility and posture

Treat mobility like training, not stretching you “might do later.” Add short mobility blocks after workouts and keep the basics consistent (hips, ankles, thoracic spine).

3) Mental health support

You don’t need to force intensity every session. Breath-led and lower-intensity classes can help with stress and recovery, such as Breathing Yoga classes.

One simple rule that keeps people consistent

Make your goal measurable and schedule-based:

• “Train 3x per week for 30 minutes” beats “get in shape.”
  
  

• Book sessions like appointments.
  
  

• Track one or two markers (loads used, class attendance, or weekly minutes moved).
  
  

That’s how resolutions become routines.

Source: leisureopportunities.co.uk

 
The opinions shared in the blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.