In the previous article we have published the global trends according to The American College of Sports Medicine® (ACSM) but what are some of the Spain's main findings with respect to the results of the 2025 survey?
Most of the fitness trends in the Spanish 2025 survey (16 out of 20, i.e. 80% of them) are the same as in 2024, but there have been some changes in the positions. The four new trends in 2025 are:
1. mobile exercise applications,
2) boutique studios,
3) low-cost and low-cost fitness centres and
4. search for new market niches.
The four trends that dropped out of the top 20 are:
(1) Regulation of exercise professionals,
2) Injury rehabilitation programmes,
3) Post-rehabilitation or disease/condition maintenance classes, and
4) Basic training.
This year, trends related to the Personal Training (#2) and the Small Group Training (#3) along with training modalities characterised by high intensity, such as the High Intensity Functional Training (#4) and the High Intensity Interval Training (#6) are at the top of the ranking.
In addition to weight loss exercises (No. 1) and physical fitness programmes for older adults (n.° 5).
Health-related trends such as Exercise is Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine or Health/wellness coaching, which are usually among the top 20 in the ranking of global trends, are not yet relevant in Spain.
At the same time, other trends are left out this year related to health that were in the Spanish top 20 last year, such as Post Rehabilitation or Disease Maintenance Classes or Exercise Injury Rehabilitation Programmes.
Trends related to digital technologyThe survey also found that the most popular products, such as Mobile Exercise Apps and Wearable Technology, were not very relevant in previous years in the Spanish surveys, have become quite prominent this yearThe ranking has increased significantly.
Perhaps this means that global trends are beginning to be reflected in Spain.
Another notable change is the relevance of some trends related to fitness professionals.. Employment of certified practising professionals falls from 2 in 2024 to 11 in 2025 and regulation of practising professionals falls from 4 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, leaving the top 20.
There is no clear justification to explain this phenomenon, so we will have to wait for the results in future editions of the survey to see if this continues over time.
What are some of the main differences you noticed between trends in Spain and global trends for 2025?
Considering all trends assessed in the Spanish survey, only 12 trends are equal compared to all other surveyed regions. These differences persist even when specific Spanish trends are excluded from this comparison. This makes there are significant differences in the perception of the main fitness trends between Spanish and international professionals, again highlighting the importance of conducting regional surveys.
As highlighted above, the difference in the relevance of health trends and technology trends is notable between Spain and the overall results of the global survey. Differences in health trends could be due to differences in the health status of the population in Spain and other countries (e.g. USA).
Spain is the country with the second highest life expectancy in the world after Japan, and the typical Mediterranean diet is an important factor in protecting the health of the Spanish population. Therefore, This may explain why the fitness industry in Spain is still not too concerned about metabolic diseases and their health consequences. Differences in technology penetration in the fitness sector may be associated with the level of technology penetration globally. Countries such as the United States are pioneers and world leaders in technology generation, so penetration in their societies is faster than in other parts of the world where new technology trends are adopted more slowly.
