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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 rose to second place, balance, flow and core strength reached third, and group fitness made the largest reported climb, from 13th to seventh.
Wearable technology ranks as the leading fitness trend heading into 2027, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual Worldwide Fitness Trends report. The survey also puts mobile exercise apps at No. 2 and balance, flow and core strength at No. 3, while group fitness classes rose six places to seventh, signaling that industry professionals expect both technology and in-person exercise formats to shape the year ahead.
The report, published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, is now in its 21st year. It ranks trends that fitness professionals expect to have the greatest influence on the industry in the coming year. Wearables, including smartwatches and fitness trackers, have held the top spot 10 times since the category entered the survey in 2016. ACSM says wearables ranked among the top three across every professional role, work setting and experience category examined.
Mobile exercise apps moved from fourth to second, while balance, flow and core strength rose from fifth to third. That third category includes Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise. Group fitness climbed from 13th to seventh, one of the largest position changes in the rankings. The report describes the move as reflecting interest in instructor-led workouts and the social aspects of exercising with others; it does not establish why individual consumers chose those activities.
Other leading categories include fitness programs for older adults at No. 4 and traditional strength training at No. 5. Exercise for weight management ranked sixth, and data-driven training technology held eighth place. The report also lists exercise for mental health and well-being among the top 10, saying the category has remained there for four consecutive years. These are survey rankings of expected industry trends, not measurements of participation or proof that a particular approach produces specific results.
The rankings point to a fitness market where digital tools and face-to-face classes coexist. Wearables can track activity and other metrics, while apps offer workouts and training plans outside traditional gym settings. Group classes, by contrast, bring instructor-led structure and the opportunity to exercise alongside others. For gyms and trainers, the report suggests that offerings across those formats may be relevant to how they plan programs and reach clients.
The rise in older-adult programming and strength training also places life-stage needs and physical function prominently in the forecast. ACSM says programs for older adults have ranked in the top five for five consecutive years. The survey does not show how much businesses will invest in these areas, or whether their expectations will match consumer behavior during 2027. Its value is as an industry-facing snapshot of what respondents expect to matter, rather than a direct count of sales, class attendance or device use.
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How ACSM Builds Its Annual Ranking
ACSM describes the publication as an annual report identifying trends fitness professionals expect to influence the industry in the coming year. The 2027 list spans consumer technology, exercise formats and population-specific programming, rather than ranking products or recommending a single workout plan. Wearable technology’s return to first place continues a pattern visible since its inclusion in the survey in 2016.
The category rankings also include areas that overlap. Wearables and data-driven training technology are separate entries: the former covers devices used to monitor measures such as activity, heart rate and sleep, while the latter concerns using biometric information to tailor training. The source says the latter stayed at No. 8. Pilates is included within a broader category that also covers yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise, so the third-place ranking should not be read as a ranking for Pilates alone.
““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 and chair of ACSM’s Trends Workgroup
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What the Rankings Cannot Show
The source report presents the trends and their positions, but the supplied material does not detail the survey sample, response rate, field dates or scoring method. It is therefore not possible from this information to judge how representative the responses are or how large the differences between adjacent rankings may be. A change in position indicates a move in the list, not a measured change in the number of people using a service.
The report forecasts what fitness professionals expect to influence the industry; it does not confirm that each trend will grow in 2027. It also does not establish that wearables or apps improve health outcomes, or that group classes cause people to exercise more consistently. Consumer uptake, business investment and the eventual performance of these predictions remain unknown. The supplied source excerpt also ends partway through its description of the mental health and well-being category, limiting the detail available about that entry.
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How the 2027 Forecast Plays Out
The report’s next test will be whether the trends it identifies show up in fitness programming and consumer choices during 2027. Gyms and studios may use the rankings as one reference when deciding whether to expand app-based services, wearable-linked training, group classes or programs aimed at older adults. The list itself does not announce a specific policy, product launch or business commitment.
Further details about the survey methodology would help readers assess how the rankings were produced and compare them with future editions. Until then, the findings are best read as ACSM’s annual forecast from fitness professionals, with actual demand and industry changes still to be seen.
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Key Questions
What is ACSM’s top fitness trend for 2027?
Wearable technology is No. 1 in ACSM’s Worldwide Fitness Trends report for 2027. The category has ranked first 10 times since it was added to the survey in 2016.
Which trends moved up the most?
Group fitness classes rose six places, from No. 13 to No. 7. Mobile exercise apps climbed from fourth to second, and balance, flow and core strength moved from fifth to third.
Does the third-place ranking refer only to Pilates?
No. Balance, flow and core strength is a wider category that includes Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise.
Do the rankings prove that these activities are becoming more popular with consumers?
The rankings show fitness professionals’ expectations about trends for the coming year. The supplied report details do not provide consumer participation data or prove that use of a particular activity has increased.
What does ACSM say about exercise and weight-management medications?
ACSM’s lead author said exercise remains relevant for people using anti-obesity medications, including for supporting muscle preservation, strength and physical function. That is an attributed statement from the report, not a result established by the trend rankings.
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