Always at the cutting edge of wellness trends, Anna Bjurstam argues that social connection, spirituality and healing past trauma are hugely important and their potential impact has yet to be mined

Highlights from the Health & Fitness Association 2025 Global Report, which deep dives into the state of the industry globally.

Sport England releases the latest Active Lives Children and Young People Report for 24-25, as Kath Hudson reports

Playlist, parent company of Mindbody, Booker and Classpass, has merged with EGYM, supplier of AI-enabled workout programmes and corporate wellness solutions, to create an expanded entity with a US$7.5 billion valuation.

Enjoy HCM’s conversations with entrepreneurs

Sport England has released the latest Active Lives Children & Young People Report for the 2024-25 academic year.

Epassi is delivering partnerships that offer growth opportunities for health clubs operators

The Higher Order founders talk to HCM about their new social wellness concept in West Palm Beach, Florida

Anna Bjurstam, strategic advisor for Six Senses and founder of spa consultancy Raison d’Etre, told fitness and wellness professionals at the recent HCM Summit in London that delivering physical fitness is now the bare minimum requirement for gym operations.

Huge opportunities exist in emerging markets, while Millennials and Gen Z are driving growth across the whole industry, says the HFA Global Report

The 2025 HFA Global Report, which looked at almost 30 markets, shows that around the world more people are joining gyms and seeing fitness as essential, despite rising living costs.

After a decade of lobbying by the Health & Fitness Association, the US House of Representatives has passed the reconciliation bill which includes the Personal Health Improvement Today (PHIT) Act.

Research by the Global Health and Fitness Alliance (GHFA) and the Health and Fitness Association (HFA), says cost is still a barrier to joining gyms, which is limiting the industry’s impact on population health.

Testosterone shots, GLP-1s and wellness – HCM talks to industry leaders about their plans for 2025 and examines current opportunites, threats and trends

The global wellness economy surged to an all-time high valuation of US$6.3 trillion in 2023 – meaning it has broken records for the third year running – according to brand-new research from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

Sector leaders in the UK have collaborated to create the Physical Activity Leadership Network that aims to raise physical activity levels, address inequalities and create an Active Wellbeing Service.

As absenteeism continues to take a huge economic toll, with musculoskeletal problems and poor mental health the biggest issues, can workplace wellness really make a difference, asks Kath Hudson?

Physical activity is linked to a 43 per cent reduction in mental health symptoms such as depression, a recent study shows

The big challenge for the sector is reaching all populations to ensure everyone can get access to exercise in a way that works for them, says Liz Terry

Physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counselling or leading medications when it comes to managing and treating mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

As data shows health spend correlates with longevity, experts discuss how this insight is driving new industry priorities

The head of the World Health Organization’s Physical Activity Unit talks to Kate Cracknell as part of HCM’s partnership with Europe Active

The Humanity app puts the focus on ageing, letting users see the repercussions of their habits

Can exercise professionals gain the wider trust of the medical community, and play a pivotal role in the wellbeing agenda?

Lockdown wasn’t good for the nation’s health, and the bad habits forged in lockdown one have endured. Dr Felix Naughton talks to Kath Hudson about the findings from the UEA’s research

One legacy of the pandemic is the extra support the nation now needs to get healthy, as well as rehabilitation support for long COVID sufferers. Kate Cracknell looks at the early response from the industry with some of the programmes underway

A major new initiative will look to strengthen and unite the fitness industry's voice in influencing policy and policymakers in the US.

Among the legacies of COVID-19 will be a long-term requirement to support those affected the virus, by providing dedicated rehabilitation and support services to help people manage and recover from health conditions including Long COVID. Exercise plays a key role in this and the current medical guidance is for people to get back to their previous level of activity as soon as possible – even aiming to be more active.

The physical activity sector can step up as an essential service by helping people during their recovery from COVID-19. HCM takes a look at some emerging initiatives

When the government’s rent moratorium comes to an end, operators could face problems. We ask the experts how to resolve rent issue and avoid an economic ‘long COVID’