Members of HCM’s senior-level industry panel share their thoughts with Kath Hudson on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead

According to McKinsey’s latest report, The trends defining the US$1.8 trillion global wellness market in 2024, the market for wellness is being driven by consumers taking more control of their health.

With pressure on medical services at an all time high, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change is calling for investment in disease prevention – treating people when they are asymptomatic.

TikTok, has launched into the fitness market with a new hub called #TikTokFitness and a supporting consumer marketing push.

Return to in-person exercise is reflected in the results of the American College of Sport’s Medicine (ACSM) trends list for 2024, with wearable technology top once again.

From in-app communications to AI-created workout plans, health club management software providers discuss their latest innovations

The wellbeing referral manager at Edinburgh Leisure reveals the impact of digitalisation on exercise interventions in a city with high levels of deprivation

The CEO of holistic wellness app Centr – founded by actor Chris Hemsworth – tells us about its new Hyrox partnership and move into the equipment market

As Xponential buys two new brands, Kate Cracknell talks to the CEO about keeping the portfolio on track and optimising the opportunity

With new stroke rehabilitation guideliness published in the US and the UK calling for more exercise interventions, Vicky Kiernander asks the experts how the health and fitness sector can intervene, to the benefit of patients, the sector and the medical profession

Horizon Leisure is upgrading and investing in its new shopping-centre health hub – The Wellbeing Hub in Havant, UK – by adding blood pressure checks to its list of services.

The 2023 IHRSA Global Report reveals a positive long-term outlook for the industry, as operators navigate challenges and embrace growth. Jeff Solsby reports

The London Boutique Studio Report 2023 from Leisure DB examines how the sector has emerged from the pandemic, as David Minton reports

While critical for business success, the challenges of ESG can be overwhelming. Operators tell us how they’re tackling it

Dealing with attrition can be the key to success for operators, according to new research that provides actionable insights

The rapid advance of technology in all areas of life is putting societies in flux, creating uncertainty and forcing people to reassess their plans for the future, according to a new report from consulting firm Accenture.

Cheriee Wales reports from the recent Fitronics and Proinsight ConnectCX conference and CoursePro Summit

With the sector’s widespread view that the UK government’s new physical activity and sport strategy lacks vision, Martyn Allison dissects the finer details, while industry thought leaders also comment

Katherine Merrifield and Gwen Nightingale of The Health Foundation Healthy Lives team outline what our sector should be asking of government

With female menstrual cycles having such an impact on exercise outcomes, is it time for the industry to recognise this, get more comfortable with the conversation and develop more expertise to guide and support women? We ask the experts

We talk to the founder of Sparkd Fitness, an innovative gym experience bringing combined brain-body training to the wider population

New research shows that children who get involved with organised physical activity in the first two years of school develop more powerful reasoning skills

The booming market for strength training is driving growth in everything from hardware to programming, as Steph Eaves discovers

The EU is introducing laws to tax imports, with extra penalties for goods and materials from countries with lax eco standards. HCM’s panel explains

We need to change the language we use as a sector if we are to be understood and taken seriously by governments and investors, says David Minton

The MD of Benefit Systems tells Kate Cracknell how the company gives access to 5k facilities through its MultiSport card

A new Quest mystery shopping initiative reveals how operators could do better when handling communications with hard-to-reach groups

A new breed of health clubs is emerging with joining rules that include invitation-only and referral, with some requiring medical and training assessments, as Kath Hudson discovers

We dive into the State of the UK Swimming Industry Report 2023 by Leisure DB to see what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the aquatics sector

The best heart rate for burning fat differs hugely between individuals and often does not align with the suggested “fat burning zone” on commercial gym equipment and exercise machines.