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Health and Fitness Resolutions Lead Americans in 2025

As the year 2025 kicks off, a nationwide survey conducted by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) has unveiled an important trend among Americans: health and fitness are at the forefront of New Year's resolutions. Approximately 159 million U.S. adults plan to set goals for the year, with 60% of them—around 96 million individuals—focusing specifically on health, fitness, and exercise.

A Closer Look at Fitness Goals

Among those committing to fitness, the most common goals include:
1. Building Muscle or Strength: 50% of respondents aim to foster their physical strength.
2. Establishing a Regular Exercise Routine: 44% wish to create a consistent workout schedule.
3. Improving Mental Health: 42% are looking to enhance their mental well-being through physical activity.

These aspirations reflect a comprehensive view of fitness, recognizing the significant benefits it offers, both physically and mentally.

The Importance of Fitness Facilities

To facilitate achieving these fitness ambitions, access to structured exercise spaces like gyms and health clubs is deemed essential. In fact, nearly 90% of respondents indicate that availability of fitness facilities is important or extremely important in reaching their objectives. Notably, 58% intend to maintain their current gym memberships, while 23% plan to join new fitness centers this year.

Despite the enthusiasm for fitness, there is a notable concern regarding affordability. Roughly one-third of survey participants cite cost as a primary obstacle preventing them from reaching their fitness goals in 2025. This dichotomy of ambition versus accessibility highlights a pressing issue for many Americans, emphasizing a need for solutions that make fitness attainable.

Liz Clark, President and CEO of HFA, remarked, "While many Americans are eager to enhance their health and fitness this year, financial barriers remain a real challenge for numerous individuals. This situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity to explore strategic solutions that can facilitate broader access to fitness, fostering healthier communities."

Insights from the HFA Report

Coinciding with the survey results, a new HFA report titled Reversing the Physical Inactivity Crisis – Fitness Affordability as Strategic Policy sheds light on public investment opportunities. In partnership with Portas Consulting, the report discusses potential pricing strategies aimed at increasing gym accessibility.

Key findings from the report indicate:

• - Increased Activity Levels: Individuals utilizing fitness facilities are nearly 50% more likely to meet the World Health Organization's recommended levels of physical activity compared to those who do not use these resources.
• - Economic Impact of Membership Discounts: A 10% decrease in gym membership fees could encourage an additional 17 million Americans to engage in structured exercise, effectively preventing around 500,000 chronic disease cases annually. This would represent a staggering $12.2 billion in healthcare cost savings.
• - Job Creation and Community Trust: A surge in fitness participation is projected to generate $12.3 billion in consumer spending, create 230,000 jobs, and enhance community trust and life satisfaction.

The survey and report collaboratively pave a path for aligning fitness aspirations with practical initiatives, revealing the necessity of making fitness affordable for everyone. "Making fitness accessible transcends individual goals; it cultivates healthier communities and unlocks the extensive benefits of physical activity on a societal level," emphasized Clark.

Methodology and Background

The survey, executed by Kantar on behalf of HFA, involved an online questionnaire distributed from December 19 to December 27, 2024, to a national representative sample of 2,000 American adults aged 18 and older. The margin of error stands at +/- 2 percent, with greater variability among subgroups.

Additionally, the report integrates consumer surveys with Portas' proprietary Social Return on Investment (SROI) model to assess health, social, and economic effects, based on data collected in September 2024 from 1,517 adult Americans.

The Health & Fitness Association, previously known as IHRSA, has been serving as a global voice for health and fitness facilities since 1981. Through advocacy, education, and research, the association seeks to address opportunities and challenges influencing the fitness industry today. Follow HFA on their social media platforms for updates and opportunities in the fitness space.