It doesn’t matter if you work out at a gym or in a personal home gym; maintaining fitness is important for both health and lifespan.
Exercise is crucial for overall health, helping manage weight, strengthening the heart, controlling blood sugar, improving mood, boosting energy, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. It also benefits the mind and mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and enhancing brain function, while also building strong bones and muscles, preventing falls, and leading to a longer, healthier life.
In recent decades, Americans have been lacking in maintaining their health, with rates of obesity and associated chronic conditions like hypertension skyrocketing across the nation. In what appears to be a possible reversal of the decline of the American health trend, according to the Health & Fitness Association (HFA), formerly known as IHRSA, Americans are visiting gyms more often in 2025.
Key Trends Reported for 2025
- Overall Increase in Visits: In the first half of 2025, total visits to U.S. fitness facilities rose by 3.5% compared to the same period in 2024. This growth continued into Q3, with average visits per facility up more than 4% year-over-year.
- Increased Visit Frequency: Members and non-members are showing up more often. The average number of monthly visits per user increased by 1.4% in the first half of the year, rising to 2.5% in the third quarter compared to 2024 data.
- Budget Gyms Lead Growth: The most significant gains were seen in high-volume, low-price (HVLP) and mid-priced gyms (e.g., Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness). These segments hit record visitation levels, driven by consumer demand for value and accessibility.
- Sustained Momentum: The data indicates a consistent trend of Americans incorporating structured workouts into their routines, building on the record highs of 77 million U.S. gym memberships in 2024.
How People Are Working Out
- Close to 1 in 4 people worked out with a personal trainer, and 32.3% participated in a small-group training activity.
- Pickleball continues to gain fans and reshape facility programming. Participation in this fun and engaging activity more than doubled, driving investment into multiple-purpose spaces and hybrid memberships that merge fitness, sports, and recreation.
- Treadmills and free weights are still the backbone of gym workouts, but 43.4% of members used the treadmills, while 32.1% used the dumbbells and free weights, making these the most frequently used pieces of equipment.
- Reliance on resistance machines and ellipticals has been on a down tick, declining from 31.4% to 26.6% and 23.2% to 16.8%, respectively. This trend is reflecting the move towards functional free-form workouts that focus on control, strength, and coordination.
- Meanwhile, mind and body activities are gaining in popularity, with Yoga trending upwards from 20.2% to 21.8% and Pilates increasing 8.1% in 2024. This is in contrast to declining participation in high-intensity programs like calisthenics, HIIT, CrossFit, and boot camps.
“The new report illustrates how Americans are blending equipment, formats, and coaching in ways that are reshaping how facilities serve their members,” said Anton Severin, vice president of research at HFA. “We’re seeing greater variety in how people train and a stronger focus on longevity, recovery, and balance. These are clear signs that fitness has become a lifelong pursuit rather than a temporary phase.”
These Are the Most Fitness-Obsessed States of the U.S.
According to a December 2025 report on the most sport-oriented US regions, Colorado is the fittest state in the nation, with over 1200 gyms. New data from the Health & Fitness Association also shows that Americans are visiting gyms more often in 2025, with visits up 3.5% from last year. A study by Instant Hydration examined key well-being factors like gym availability, outdoor activities, and fitness programs.
- In Colorado, 82.3% of residents get exercise outside of work, making it the most active state in the US.
- California has over 11K gyms, giving people the best access to fitness facilities in the country.
- Over 900K people look up workout-related information in Massachusetts each month, showing a high interest in their physical well-being.
To give a well-rounded picture of each state’s dedication to workout culture, the study compared gyms, hiking trails, fitness classes & programs, physical activity percentage outside of work, and total search volume for fitness keywords across US regions. States were scored using a workout obsession index that measures both the availability of fitness resources and actual exercise behavior, with higher scores indicating states most committed to staying active.
Here’s a look at the top 10 most workout-obsessed states:
1. Colorado
- Number of Gyms: 1,252
- Number of Hiking Trails: 407
- Fitness Classes & Programs: 241
- Physical Activity % Outside of Work: 82.3%
- Total Search Volume for Fitness Keywords: 770K
Colorado is the US state most obsessed with fitness, with the highest rate of physical activity outside work at 82.3%. Residents can take advantage of 1,252 gyms and 407 hiking trails, which offer plenty of ways to stay agile. Fitness classes and programs are widely available, too, with 241 options in the state. People also show high interest in workouts online, with 770K people looking for fitness-related terms each month.
2. California
California comes in second, with the most gyms of any state at over 11K. While physical activity outside work is slightly lower than in Colorado at 78.8%, residents have access to 690 hiking trails and 103 fitness classes and programs. People are highly engaged with sports online as well, with 5.5 million fitness-related queries.
3. Hawaii
Hawaii ranks third, offering 151 roads for hiking and 171 fitness classes for those looking for sport guidance. Around 78.3% of people engage in exercise during their leisure time, while 290 gyms provide options for indoor workouts. Over 130K people also look for sport and fitness advice online, showing a high interest in fitness-related topics.
4. Massachusetts
Massachusetts secures fourth place, providing a wide variety of workout options, with 2,070 gyms and 240 fitness classes and programs. The state has a gym-focused culture, with 76.7% of people hitting the gym before or after work. Online interest is high too, with 915K people looking for fitness advice online.
5. Delaware
Delaware rounds out the top five, with 72.8% of residents working out regularly. The state has a larger list of fitness spaces than Hawaii, with 293 gyms and 8 hiking trails helping veteran fitness lovers and newcomers stay active. There are also plenty of fitness classes being organized, at 240, while over 199K people look online for ways to keep fit.
The spokesperson from Instant Hydration commented on the study:
“People’s growing focus on exercise shows that more Americans are taking their health seriously, with many making gyms and physical activity part of their routine. Social media has helped spread workout ideas and create online communities, making staying active easier and more engaging. At the same time, the study reminds us that exercise isn’t just about looks, healthy habits work best when they support both physical and mental well-being. The key lesson is that encouraging movement, providing supportive spaces like gyms, and promoting safe, balanced approaches to working out can help people build lasting, positive lifestyle habits.”
For the complete research findings from Instant Hydration, click here.
This article was created at the WHN News Desk in collaboration with Lauren Beckett on behalf of Instant Hydration, a premium electrolyte blend working to set a new standard for effective hydration.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
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