Fitness trends in Puerto Vallarta and Bahia of Banderas, Mexico: A prospective study toward 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64268/jospa.v2i1.20Keywords:
Public health, Fitness professionals, Regional developmentAbstract
Background: Research on fitness sector trends represents a strategic resource for understanding changes in physical conditioning practices and emerging social demands related to health and well-being. This study extends the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends by integrating a regional longitudinal framework within a tourism-based metropolitan economy, an approach that remains underexplored in Latin American contexts. Aims: To identify and compare the main fitness trends projected for 2026 in the Puerto Vallarta–Bahía de Banderas region, examining their evolution over time and their alignment with national fitness trends in Mexico. Methods: A descriptive, comparative, and longitudinal design was employed using an adapted version of the ACSM Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends. Data were collected through a digital questionnaire administered to fitness and health professionals via a non-probabilistic snowball sampling strategy between April and May 2025. The final sample consisted of 218 professionals working in the study region. Results: Exercise for body weight control, traditional strength training, and commercial or multi-purpose gyms emerged as the leading trends for 2026. Additionally, priorities related to mental health, youth sports development, and service digitalization gained prominence. Approximately 60% of the locally projected fitness trends coincide with national trends in Mexico, although differences in hierarchical positioning reflect the region's contextual specificities. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate a diversification of the regional fitness sector that combines consolidated practices with emerging social and technological demands. Academically, the study contributes a localized longitudinal perspective to the global fitness trends literature, while practically informing professional training, business strategies, and public health–oriented decision-making in tourism-driven urban regions.
References
Addolorato, S. (2025). Can Wearable and Digital Technologies Augment Business-to-Consumer Data Driven Outcomes in Health and Fitness Industry?. Sport i Turystyka, 8(1), 161-175.
https://doi.org/10.16926/sit.2025.01.08 DOI: https://doi.org/10.16926/sit.2025.01.08
Amaral, P., & Palma, D. (2019). Brazil and Argentina survey of fitness trends for 2020. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal., 23(6), 36-40. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000525 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000525
A'Naja, M. N., Batrakoulis, A., Camhi, S. M., McAvoy, C., Sansone, J. S., & Reed, R. (2024). 2025 ACSM worldwide fitness trends: future directions of the health and fitness industry. ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal, 28(6), 11-25. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000001017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000001017
Batrakoulis, A. C., Jamurtas, A. Z., & Fatouros, I. G. (2020). National Survey of Fitness Trends in Greece for 2021. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 8(6), 308-320. https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2020.080602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2020.080602
Beauchemin, J. D., Gabana, N., Ketelsen, K., & McGrath, C. (2019). Multidimensional wellness promotion in the health and fitness industry. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 57(3), 148-160.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2018.1559752 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2018.1559752
Dzau, V. J., McClellan, M. B., McGinnis, J. M., Burke, S. P., Coye, M. J., Diaz, A., ... & Zerhouni, E. (2017). Vital directions for health and health care: priorities from a National Academy of Medicine initiative. Jama, 317(14), 1461-1470. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.1964 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.1964
Chen, M., Carl, K. V., & Hinz, O. (2025). Continued usage of mobile fitness applications: a systematic literature review. Management Review Quarterly, 1-52.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-025-00537-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-025-00537-1
Gómez-Chávez, L. F., López-Haro, J., Cortés-Almanzar, P., Pelayo-Zavalza, A. R., & Aguirre-Rodríguez, L. E. (2025). Encuesta nacional de tendencias fitness para México en 2025: actualidad y direcciones futuras en acondicionamiento físico y salud. Retos, 63, 949–964. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v63.109837 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v63.109837
Gómez, C. (2019). Desarrollo Local Del Mercado Fitness: Puerto Vallarta, México. Revista de Educación Física (153), 21-27.
Gómez, C. L., Figueroa, O., Cortés, P., & Valencia, A. A. (2022). Análisis del sector fitness en Puerto Vallarta, México, 2021. Revista Digital de Educación Física, 13(74), 87-100.
Gómez, C., López-Haro, J., Pelayo, A., & Aguirre, L. (2022). Encuesta Nacional de Tendencias Fitness para México en 2022 (National Survey of Fitness Trends in Mexico for 2022). Retos, 44, 1053-1062. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v44i0.92028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v44i0.92028
Gómez, C., Cortés, P., González, Q., & Valencia, A. (2022). El sector fitness en Puerto Vallarta: un análisis para 2022. In: Actualidades en educación física y deporte 2022. En M. González, T. López, P. Reynaga, J. Morales, & A. Díaz (Eds.), Actualidades en educación física y deporte 2022 (pp. 305–324). Universidad de Guadalajara.
Gómez, C. L., López-Haro, J., Cortés Almánzar, P., Pelayo Zavalza, A. R., Aguirre Rodríguez, L. M., & Valencia Sandoval, A. A. (2024). Tendencias de acondicionamiento físico y salud Puerto Vallarta–Bahía de Banderas 2025. https://n9.cl/ksgcj
Gomez-Trujillo, A. M., Buriticá Henao, D. C., Arroyo, B., Bonilla-Calle, D., & Mesa Bedoya, J. C. (2025). Building a global fitness empire: a case study of an emerging market fitness brand's path to international success. Review of International Business and Strategy, 35(5), 708-723.
https://doi.org/10.1108/RIBS-01-2025-0007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/RIBS-01-2025-0007
Islam, M. T., Sepanloo, K., Woo, S., Woo, S. H., & Son, Y. J. (2025). A review of the industry 4.0 to 5.0 transition: exploring the intersection, challenges, and opportunities of technology and human-machine collaboration. Machines, 13(4), 267.
https://doi.org/10.3390/machines13040267 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/machines13040267
Kercher, V. M., Kercher, K., Bennion, T., Yates, B., Feito, Y., & Alexander, C. (2023). Digital transformation in the health and fitness industry: Implications for professionals and consumers. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1218436. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1218436
Kercher, V., Kercher, K., Levy, P., Bennion, T., Alexander, C., Amaral, P., . . . Rodríguez, L. (2023). 2023 Fitness Trends from Around the Globe. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 27(1), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000836 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000836
Newsome, A., Reed, R. S., Batrakoulis, A. M., & Parrott, M. (2024). 2024 ACSM World-wide Fitness Trends: Future Directions of the Health and Fitness Industry. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 28(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000933 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000933
Piercy, K. L., Troiano, R. P., Ballard, R. M., Carlson, S. A., Fulton, J. E., Galuska, D. A., … Olson, R. D. (2023). The evolving role of physical activity in public health and disease prevention. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 20(6), 473–482. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2022-0456 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2022-0456
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.
Tian, T. (2025). Wearable sensor-based real time monitoring system for physical education teaching and training. Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, 22(1).
https://doi.org/10.62617/mcb1027 DOI: https://doi.org/10.62617/mcb1027
Thompson, W. R. (2019). Worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2020. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 23(6), 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000526 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000526
Thompson, W. R. (2022). Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2022. ACSM’S Health & Fitness Journal, 26(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000732 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000732
Valcarce-Torrente, M., Arroyo-Nieto, A., Veiga, O. L., & Morales-Rincón, C. (2022). Encuesta Nacional de Tendencias de Fitness en Colombia para el Año 2022 (National Survey of Fitness Trends in Colombia for 2022). Retos, 45, 483-495. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v45i0.93100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v45i0.93100
Valencia, A., Almánzar, P., & Gómez, C. (2022). Análisis de los retos y oportunidades para la competitividad del sector aptitud física en Puerto Vallarta. En E. Carrillo, A. Pérez, & G. Camba (Eds.), Estudios sociales y económicos: Enfoques multidisciplinarios (pp. 125–137). Universidad de Guadalajara.
Veiga, O., Valcarce-Torrente, M., & King, C. A. (2017). Encuesta nacional de tendencias de fitness en España para 2017. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, 128, 108-125. https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2017/2).128.07 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2017/2).128.07
Zamora, S. K., & Gauna, R. C. (2024). Planeación para el ordenamiento territorial en un destino turístico: Puerto Vallarta-Bahía de Banderas. Revista de turismo y patrimonio cultural, 22(4), 755-774. https://doi:10.25145/j.pasos.2024.22.049 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2024.22.049
Zhuang, X., Tang, Z., Lin, S., & Ding, Z. (2025). Prediction and Optimization of the Restoration Quality of University Outdoor Spaces: A Data-Driven Study Using Image Semantic Segmentation and Explainable Machine Learning. Buildings, 15(16), 2936.
https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162936 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162936
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Paola Cortes Almanzar, Araceli Anayanzi Valencia Sandoval, Jorge López-Haro, Adrian Ricardo Pelayo Zavalza, Lino Francisco Jacobo Gómez Chávez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
