TL;DR
Get wellness gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Wearable technology ranks as the leading fitness trend for 2027 in the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual survey, marking its 10th time at No. 1 since 2016. Mobile exercise apps and balance, flow and core-strength activities also rose, while group fitness climbed six places to No. 7.
Wearable technology has been ranked the top fitness trend for 2027 in the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual Worldwide Fitness Trends report, returning to No. 1 for the 10th time since the category entered the survey in 2016. The rankings also show rising interest in mobile exercise apps, Pilates-related training and group fitness, signaling that technology remains prominent while social and movement-focused offerings gain ground.
The annual report, published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, identifies trends fitness professionals expect to influence the industry in the coming year. Wearables—including smartwatches and fitness trackers—ranked first overall and were the only trend to appear in the top three across every professional role, work setting and experience category examined in the survey. The devices can track measures such as activity, heart rate, sleep and recovery.
Mobile exercise apps moved from fourth place to second, and balance, flow and core strength rose from fifth to third. That third category includes Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise. Programs for older adults ranked fourth, while traditional strength training advanced two places to fifth. Exercise for weight management came in sixth.
Group fitness classes made one of the largest jumps, rising six spots from No. 13 to No. 7. Data-driven training technology held at No. 8, and exercise for mental health and well-being remained in the top 10 for a fourth consecutive year. ACSM’s report presents these results as expected industry trends; the rankings are not a measurement of how many people took part in each activity.
The rankings offer fitness businesses and professionals a view of where the industry may focus programming and investment in 2027. The top position for wearables points to continued interest in tracking personal activity and health-related metrics. The rise of apps also signals demand for workouts and coaching that can reach people beyond a gym or studio.
At the same time, gains for group classes and movement-focused exercise suggest technology is not the only priority represented in the survey. Instructor-led sessions can offer structure and social contact, while Pilates, yoga and mobility work cover forms of exercise centered on balance, control and flexibility. For operators, the mix may encourage programs that pair digital tools with in-person options and varied training styles. The report does not establish that any one offering will produce better outcomes or commercial results.
The older-adult and strength-training rankings also point to ongoing attention to physical function across life stages. ACSM identifies these as industry priorities, including programming aimed at strength, mobility and independence. The rankings can inform planning, but they do not dictate what any individual should choose or substitute for guidance tailored to a person’s health and abilities.
best wearable fitness trackers 2027
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Annual Rankings Work
ACSM’s Worldwide Fitness Trends report is in its 21st year. It asks fitness professionals to identify trends they expect to have the greatest influence on the industry in the following year. The 2027 list therefore reflects respondents’ expectations, rather than a census of consumer behavior or a forecast that every listed trend will grow at the same rate.
Wearable technology has appeared in the survey since 2016 and has ranked first 10 times, according to the report’s summary. The category includes devices used to monitor activity and other metrics. ACSM separately lists data-driven training technology, which focuses on using biometric information—such as heart-rate variability, sleep quality and training load—to shape workouts and recovery decisions.
The report describes recent momentum in Pilates offerings, including reformer classes at boutique studios and larger gym chains, as part of the broader balance, flow and core-strength category. Its explanation of group fitness likewise points to instructor-led exercise and opportunities for community and accountability. These are the report’s interpretations of the rankings, not proof of the reasons individual consumers chose those activities.
“Technology continues to shape how people approach fitness, but this year’s rankings also highlight the value of shared experiences and programs that fit different stages of life.”
— Cayla McAvoy, lead author of the report and chair of ACSM’s Trends Workgroup
top-rated smartwatches for health monitoring
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What the Survey Cannot Show
The supplied report summary does not give the survey sample size, response rate, field dates or detailed methodology. It also does not provide exact vote totals or margins between ranked trends. Readers cannot use the ranking alone to tell how strongly respondents favored one category over another, or how representative the responses were of the fitness industry as a whole.
The list describes professionals’ expectations for 2027, not verified changes in participation, sales or health outcomes. It remains unclear from the available material whether the gains for apps, Pilates-related activities and group classes will translate into sustained consumer demand. The report also does not establish that using wearables or a particular exercise format causes better fitness results.
mobile exercise apps for strength training
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How Fitness Providers May Respond
The report’s rankings give gyms, studios and fitness professionals a set of trends to weigh as they plan programming for 2027. Providers may expand app-based access, wearable-compatible coaching, strength sessions, older-adult programs or group classes, but the survey does not say which businesses will make those choices or when.
Further information about the survey’s methodology and the full ranked list would help readers assess how the results were collected and how the categories compare. For now, ACSM’s report is an annual snapshot of professional expectations, with wearables at the top and several app-based, movement-focused and social formats gaining position.
Pilates and mobility exercise equipment
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What is the top fitness trend for 2027 in ACSM’s report?
Wearable technology ranks No. 1. The report says it has held the top position 10 times since the category was added to the survey in 2016.
Which fitness trends rose most in the rankings?
Group fitness classes climbed six places, from No. 13 to No. 7. Mobile exercise apps rose from fourth to second, and balance, flow and core strength moved from fifth to third.
Does the ranking prove that more people are using wearables?
No. The report records trends fitness professionals expect to shape the industry. The rankings are not a count of consumer purchases, device use or exercise participation.
What does ACSM include in balance, flow and core strength?
The category includes Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise, as well as activities aimed at balance, flexibility and movement control.
What information about the survey is not included in the supplied report summary?
The summary does not state the survey’s sample size, response rate, field dates, exact vote totals or ranking margins. That limits how fully readers can judge the survey’s representativeness and the size of differences between trends.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
