For the fourth time, Bergische Universität Wuppertal has conducted a survey on the topic of fitness trends, interviewing several hundred fitness professionals. The study involved 30.8% male and 69.2% female participants. The experts assessed 40 already specified trends in terms of their importance in 2019. Each participant was able to enter their own priorities in three fields. This is how the "newcomers" among the trends are captured. The study answers the questions: What will be a fitness trend in Germany in 2019? In which areas is demand increasing? Where is there potential? You can find the most important results of the survey here.
The TOP 5 fitness trends for 2019
The first place among the trends in 2019 is shared by the training quality/standard of fitness instructors and fitness programs for older people. Both topics have been at the top since the first study in 2016, and compared to previous years, the importance of programs for elders has increased slightly (from 2nd to 1st place)
New in the TOP 5 at #2 is workplace health promotion (#6 in 2018) - an important trend that reflects well the new, more holistic focus on body and mind. In 3rd place is group fitness under guidance, 4th place is held by Functional Fitness held.
Compared to the trends of previous years, it is noticeable that there continues to be a strong focus on the quality of trainers. Weight loss training(ranked #3 in 2018) drops out of the TOP 5 to #14, otherwise the same topics remain trending as in 2018.
The places 6 - 20 of the current fitness trends 2019.
Above all, on the ranks 6-10 has changed a lot compared to last year, more details here at a glance:
- Body and Mind
- Outdoor activities (sports outdoors)
- Core training (training with a focus on the center of the body)
- Fitness/health checks
- Yoga
- Cooperation with doctors
- personal training
- Circuit training
- Weight loss training
- Fascia training
- Training with your own body weight
- Flexibility and mobility rollers (Blackroll)
- Rehab sports programs
- Prevention courses
- Deepwork (functional group training)
Changes in fitness trends in 2019 compared to the previous year
While the trends remained largely stable from 2016 to 2018, there were significant changes in 2019. In particular, there were marked shifts in the ranks 6-10 in the direction of holistic fitness programs.
Traditional health themes such as "weight loss training," "rehabilitation sports programs" and "prevention courses" have lost a great deal of importance. Intensive endurance or strength programs such as "HIIT" and "training with your own body weight" also show a significant drop in trend importance.
In a global comparison, it is noticeable that wearables, which have been in stable first place in the "Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends" of the "American College for Sports Medicine" (ACSM) since 2017 until 2019, are still not a major topic in Germany.
Conclusion
The awareness of "quality" has remained, and the health orientation continues to be strong in the fitness industry. A slight shift from a purely physical point of view to a holistic approach can be observed. The focus is less on weight reduction ("slim and beautiful") and more on prevention, rehabilitation and health in general ("healthy and beautiful"). It is still important to provide high-quality support in group training and to offer health-oriented training programs. The basis here is high-quality training and qualification of the trainers.
The survey
The survey was developed and conducted by the University of Wuppertal under the direction of Prof. Dr. Theodor Stemper. The survey was supported by the associations DFAV e.V. (Deutscher Fitness & Aerobic Verband) and BVGSD e.V. (Bundesverband Gesundheitsstudios Deutschland) as well as the insider trade magazine F&G Fitness und Gesundheit.
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Editors fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
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Published on: 7 May 2019