Introduction: A Look Back at a Transformative Year

As we step into 2026, it is essential to analyze the profound shifts that reshaped the wellness landscape in the preceding year. 2025 was not a year of incremental change; it was a period of revolution, driven by the powerful convergence of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and a fundamental rethinking of personal health. The year was defined not by grueling routines or restrictive dogmas, but by a collective move toward smart, intuitive, and highly personalized wellness strategies that built sustainable momentum for millions.

This report draws from the pivotal data of 2025—including Glimpse's Diet Trends analysis, McKinsey's Future of Wellness Survey, and groundbreaking market data on everything from GLP-1 pharmaceuticals to AI-powered applications—to unpack the key lessons learned. By examining the trends that shaped the conversation, from search engine queries to consumer spending habits, we can better understand the forces that will continue to influence health and wellness in 2026 and beyond.

Overview: The Key Trends That Defined 2025

2025 was a landmark year that saw significant shifts in how the public approached healthy eating and exercise. The overarching theme was a move toward making wellness more intuitive, fun, and personalized, leaving rigid, one-size-fits-all plans behind.

High-Protein Eating Went Mainstream

In 2025, protein officially became the star of the nutrition world. Glimpse’s May 2025 data ranked “Daily Protein” as a top search trend, with queries for “high-protein dessert” up 76% year over year. What started as a gym habit became a household one. The focus shifted from cutting calories to adding nutrient-dense, protein-rich foods that kept people fuller for longer—a supportive, sustainable strategy embraced by everyone from busy parents to desk-bound professionals.

Personalized AI Diets Came of Age

One of the biggest wellness technology trends of 2025 was the rise of AI-powered diet apps. Smart tools began using personal data—activity levels, food preferences, even photos—to recommend meals customized to each lifestyle. According to McKinsey’s Future of Wellness survey, 84% of U.S. consumers prioritized wellness in 2025, fueling explosive growth in the AI nutrition app market, which reached an estimated $5.76 billion (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).

Hybrid Fitness Became the Go-To Routine

When it came to exercise, hybrid fitness took the crown. By combining steady Zone 2 cardio with high-intensity interval training (HIIT), people discovered a balanced, time-efficient approach that worked for all fitness levels. The ACSM 2025 Fitness Trends Report ranked Wearable Technology #1, while the Health & Fitness Association reported a 3.5% increase in gym visits during the first half of the year—proof that physical activity was becoming both smarter and more sustainable.

The Demand for Intuitive Calorie Tracking Exploded

Another defining nutrition trend of 2025 was the push for smarter calorie tracking. Users grew tired of clunky, manual apps, signaling the need for a new generation of AI-native calorie trackers that make logging effortless. While the wellness app market is projected to grow at 11.6% CAGR through 2035 (Metatech Insights, 2025), the biggest opportunity lies in user experience—fast, accurate, and intelligent tracking that feels natural, not tedious.

More reading: The Rise of the AI Calorie Counter

The GLP-1 Revolution Redefined Weight Loss

The undisputed headline of 2025 was the GLP-1 weight-loss revolution. Searches for “GLP-1” surged 159% (Glimpse, 2025), and monthly prescriptions hit 11 million by Q2—a staggering 450% increase since 2022 (IQVIA, 2025). But this wasn’t just a medical breakthrough; it reshaped consumer behavior. According to Harvard Business Review (2025), GLP-1 households cut grocery spending by 7% while boosting purchases in apparel and fitness. The message was clear: the definition of wellness was expanding beyond diets—it was becoming a lifestyle economy.

These movements signaled a profound shift away from rigid rules and toward flexible, tech-supported habits that build authentic momentum. In a world where 1 in 5 adults faced obesity (World Obesity, 2025), these trends offered a more human-centered path forward.

Nutrition Trends 2025: From Protein Power to Gut Health

If 2024 was about counting calories, 2025 was about understanding them—where they come from, how they work, and how to make them work for you.

The year marked a shift toward nourishment over numbers. Nutrition became less about restriction and more about fueling the body in ways that felt good, sustainable, and genuinely satisfying. The market moved beyond fad diets to embrace nutrient-dense, whole-food choices that supported energy, balance, and long-term progress.

Healthy Fats Made a Comeback

In 2025, the fear of fat finally faded. Omega-3s took center stage for their anti-inflammatory and heart-protective benefits.

NIH studies from 2024 linked higher omega-3 intake to improved cardiovascular health and sustained energy. The conversation shifted from avoiding fat to understanding how the right fats—like those in fish, nuts, and seeds—support longevity and metabolism (PMC, 2025; Glimpse, 2025).

🥑 Key takeaway: Fat isn’t the enemy—it’s fuel. The right balance of omega-3s and unsaturated fats can help burn fat more efficiently and sustain energy longer.

Superfoods Became Everyday Staples

Forget exotic powders and pricey supplements—superfoods went mainstream. Glimpse’s 2025 data highlighted simple heroes like berries, nuts, seeds, and legumes for their role in stabilizing blood sugar and supporting daily wellness.

Fermented favorites such as yogurt, kimchi, and kefir were crowned the #1 superfood category of the year (PR Newswire, 2025), celebrated for their gut-health benefits.

More reading: Balancing Processed vs. Whole Foods for Weight Goals

Gut Health Became the Heart of Wellness

Perhaps no trend defined 2025 more than the rise of gut health awareness. The science connecting the microbiome to digestion, metabolism, immunity, and even mood became mainstream.

Consumers embraced fiber-rich whole foods alongside probiotic-packed fermented foods, recognizing that a healthy gut = higher energy and better satiety. Searches for “postbiotics” increased 55% (Glimpse, 2025), as people sought to optimize their internal ecosystem.

“The composition of the gut microbiota directly influences how the body absorbs nutrients and regulates energy—making it a key factor in the development of obesity and related metabolic diseases.”
— Scientific Reports, ScienceDirect (2022)

More reading: The Link Between Gut Health and Weight Management

Plant-Forward Eating Took Root

2025 also brought a new era of plant-based eating—one that was flexible, inclusive, and practical. The movement shifted from strict veganism to a plant-forward mindset, encouraging more eco-friendly proteins and produce without eliminating other food groups.

This balanced approach aligned closely with GLP-1 user behavior, as many naturally gravitated toward more nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods (Innova Market Insights, 2025).

🌱 Trend insight: Sustainability became a side benefit of smarter nutrition—proof that personal health and planetary health can move in the same direction.

Small Habits, Big Impact

Across all these nutrition trends, the message was consistent: progress starts with simple, sustainable choices.

By adding a handful of nuts to a salad, swapping refined carbs for fiber-rich grains, or enjoying a daily serving of fermented foods, people learned that eating well can be effortless—and even fun.

Explore next: Why Users Are Switching from MyFitnessPal—and What They’re Choosing Instead

Fitness in 2025: How We Evolved

Fitness in 2025 moved beyond the gym and became an integral part of everyday life. The year’s top trends revealed a shift toward accessibility, recovery, and technology-driven personalization—anchored by a collective desire for balance, longevity, and performance that feels sustainable.

Accessible Strength Training Became a Cornerstone

Strength training continued to anchor the modern wellness movement, becoming a daily habit rather than a niche pursuit. Simple, compound-based workouts three times per week proved to be enough to boost metabolism, preserve lean mass, and improve energy levels.

For those using GLP-1 medications, resistance training became non-negotiable to prevent muscle loss, leading gyms and wellness platforms to launch GLP-1–friendly programs focused on strength preservation (Los Angeles Times, 2025).

💪 “Strength is the new baseline for wellness—not just for athletes, but for anyone who wants to age well.” — Glimpse Fitness Trends, 2025

Hybrid Fitness Blended Strength, Cardio, and Mobility

The most defining movement of the year was the rise of hybrid fitness—programs that merge strength, cardio, and mobility into one cohesive format. According to Glimpse data, searches for hybrid training rose 42% year-over-year, hitting 75K monthly searches.

These versatile workouts appeal to both everyday exercisers and seasoned athletes who crave balance and efficiency. Whether it’s powerlifting mixed with cycling or HIIT combined with yoga, hybrid training supports endurance, strength, and flexibility simultaneously.

Low-Impact Training Made Fitness More Accessible

As Men’s Journal reported, low-impact workouts became one of the fastest-growing fitness trends of 2025—reflecting a broader desire for sustainable movement and injury prevention.

From Pilates reformer classes and slow-flow yoga to guided walking programs and water-based resistance workouts, gentle but effective routines helped more people stay active without overtraining. This shift resonated with older adults, beginners, and those recovering from injury—all part of a larger “longevity-first” approach to exercise.

“Low-impact training meets the modern demand for accessible, pain-free fitness that still delivers results.” — Men’s Journal, 2025

Gamification Drove Wearable Adoption

Wearables continued their explosive rise in 2025, transforming from data trackers to digital accountability partners. Searches for WHOOP Watch rose 83% year-over-year (167K monthly searches, Glimpse, 2025), and smartwatch engagement hit record highs.

Closing Apple Watch rings, joining Fitbit challenges, and tracking recovery scores turned exercise into a game. Devices now integrate AI coaching, stress tracking, and sleep analysis, turning the quantified-self movement into a full-blown lifestyle.

Functional Fitness Focused on Longevity

Functional strength training evolved to include AI-powered assessments, hybrid modalities, and built-in recovery tools, according to IDEA Fit’s 2025 Functional Fitness Report.

Expectations shifted from aesthetics to practical performance—training for balance, mobility, and real-world strength using kettlebells, resistance bands, and compound lifts.

• AI-powered motion analysis now personalizes workouts based on movement patterns.

• Hybrid modalities like Pilates-meets-martial-arts are gaining ground.

• Recovery integration—foam rolling, percussive therapy, and breathwork—became standard.

• Joint health and fall prevention entered the mainstream as part of active aging programs.

“Functional fitness is no longer about performance for sport—it’s about independence for life.” — IDEA Fit, 2025

Technology Transformed the Fitness Experience

The fitness tech boom continued to reshape behavior. According to Exploding Topics, fitness apps surpassed 800 million users worldwide, driving an estimated $6.8 billion in revenue in 2025.

While hardware leaders like Peloton maintained steady usage spikes around New Year’s resolutions, the real growth came from mobile apps and AI integrations that made training more adaptive and personalized.

From Apple Fitness+ to emerging AI workout platforms, users increasingly expect on-demand, data-driven coaching that syncs across devices and apps.

Endurance Events Redefined Competition

The global fitness race scene exploded, led by HYROX, the hybrid endurance event combining running with functional strength. According to Athletech News (2025), HYROX awareness jumped 233% year-over-year, and 1 in 10 people planning a fitness event in 2024 had entered or planned to enter a HYROX race (PureGym data).

These events represent the next frontier of competitive fitness—blending endurance, strength, and grit—and appeal to weekend warriors looking for community and purpose, not just finish times.

Recovery Became the New Performance Metric

Recovery officially became part of the workout itself. “Cold Plunge Sauna” searches climbed 70% year-over-year (Glimpse, 2025), and recovery supplements became one of the fastest-growing categories in the health and fitness market.

From electrolyte-infused hydration to sleep and mobility optimization, people began treating recovery as a daily discipline rather than an indulgence.
Sauna therapy, assisted stretching, and mobility sessions are now viewed as core components of a performance plan, not extras.

🧊 “Recovery is no longer optional—it’s the key to consistency.” — Glimpse Fitness Trends, 2025

At-Home Fitness Evolved Beyond the Pandemic

Home-based exercise continued its post-pandemic transformation. The “Walking Pad” trend grew 98% year-over-year to 1.7 million monthly searches (Glimpse, 2025), as remote professionals brought movement directly into the workday.

Compact treadmills, adjustable dumbbells, and recovery stations turned home offices into “micro-gyms.” Meanwhile, connected platforms like Peloton, Tonal, and Fitbod redefined what at-home fitness could be—immersive, social, and tech-enabled.

The Future of Fitness: Longevity Over Intensity

The unifying theme of 2025 was fitness for longevity. Across modalities—strength, hybrid training, recovery, and endurance—the focus shifted from “work harder” to “move smarter.”

People are chasing resilience, not exhaustion, and valuing progress that lasts decades, not weeks. As AI, wearables, and recovery science converge, the next era of wellness isn’t about transformation—it’s about maintenance, mobility, and meaningful movement.

Explore more: The Future of Calorie Tracking: From Manual Logs to Your AI Coach

Diets in 2025: What Worked

“Dieting” in 2025 was all about flexibility and personalization. Rigid meal plans gave way to adaptive, data-driven strategies designed to fit real life. Technology—and particularly AI—became the new nutritionist, helping people plan smarter, eat intuitively, and sustain progress without the guilt or grind.

Adaptive High-Protein Plans Took the Lead

High-protein eating didn’t just trend—it evolved. Adaptive high-protein plans adjusted to each individual’s needs, supporting satiety, energy, and muscle preservation while staying aligned with broader health goals.

As EatingWell noted, “A high-protein, anti-inflammatory meal plan can boost energy, support muscle recovery, and keep hunger in check throughout the day.” (EatingWell, 2025)

These balanced, flexible approaches became the foundation of sustainable weight management—less about macros perfection, more about fueling consistently.

Intermittent Fasting Stayed Simple and Sustainable

Among popular eating styles, intermittent fasting—and especially time-restricted eating (TRE)—remained a clear favorite for its simplicity and flexibility.

According to Newsweek, “Time-restricted eating (TRE) is gaining popularity for its health benefits, including improving energy, mood and weight management,” said nutrition scientist Zoe Spector. “New research shows that an earlier eating window—such as finishing meals by 7 p.m.—can enhance mood and metabolism.” (Newsweek, 2025)

The appeal lies in its adaptability. TRE doesn’t dictate what to eat, just when—making it easier for users to align with natural circadian rhythms, manage appetite, and support metabolic health without overcomplication.

GLP-1 Medications Redefined Diet Behavior

The GLP-1 revolution reshaped how millions approached food altogether. These medications didn’t just suppress appetite—they rewired habits, encouraging smaller portions and better food quality.

According to HealthVerity’s 2025 GLP-1 Trends Report, “A nationally representative survey conducted by RAND found that 11.8% of Americans have used GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, and about 14% express interest, while 74% say they do not plan to take them.” The data also showed that women aged 50–64 use GLP-1s at the highest rate, signaling that midlife consumers are leading this behavioral shift.

As appetite decreased, nutrient density and protein intake became critical to maintaining muscle and preventing deficiencies—a need increasingly addressed through smarter calorie tracking and adaptive nutrition tools like Hoot.

Tracking Got Smarter—Not Stricter

Across all diet styles, one theme emerged: the need for frictionless tracking. People no longer tolerated the tedious process of entering every bite. They wanted AI-native calorie counters that could keep up with real life—smart, seamless, and instant.

This shift marked the end of the old-school diet app era and the beginning of context-aware nutrition tracking, where users can snap a photo, speak a log, or describe a meal in seconds. For the first time, technology made dietary consistency effortless—turning the act of tracking into something people actually want to do.

More reading: The Rise of the AI Calorie Counter: How AI Is Changing Nutrition Tracking

Innovations & Challenges of the Year

2025 was a breakout year for wellness technology, marked by rapid innovation and a few growing pains along the way. With digital health funding reaching $25.5 billion (Galen Growth, 2025), the pace of advancement was unprecedented.

AI meal planners and advanced wearables became essential tools, turning daily health tracking into an interactive, gamified experience. The potential of AI-driven calorie tracking was clearer than ever—but the market still lagged behind, dominated by legacy apps with outdated interfaces and unreliable databases. This created a clear gap between what technology could deliver and what most consumers actually used.

Meanwhile, the constant flow of health data led to information overload, with 40% of users reporting feeling overwhelmed (TipstoHealth, 2025). The solution? Starting small—using smarter apps that simplify insights rather than flood users with them.

Beyond data fatigue, users faced GLP-1–related challenges such as managing side effects and maintaining muscle mass, while developers worked to build trust in new AI systems.

Ultimately, the most successful platforms—and the people using them—focused on long-term progress over quick fixes, measuring success not by the scale, but by consistency, sustainability, and everyday wins.

What We Learned: A Wellness Guide for 2026

The trends of 2025 have set the stage for an even more integrated and personalized approach to wellness in 2026. Based on the lessons learned last year, here are the key takeaways for the year ahead:

1. The Importance of Protein Was Solidified. 2025 proved that adequate protein is critical for satiety, blood sugar stability, and preserving muscle mass—a non-negotiable for both general weight management and for those using GLP-1 medications.

2. Gut Health Became a Central Pillar of Wellness. The focus on the microbiome, fueled by both fiber and fermented foods, highlighted the connection between digestive health and everything from mood to energy levels.

3. Hybrid Fitness Offered the Best of Both Worlds. The combination of steady-state cardio and high-intensity training emerged as a time-efficient and highly effective model for a broad range of fitness goals.

4. The Demand for Effortless Tracking Became Undeniable. The friction of manual logging was identified as a major barrier to consistency. The market made it clear: the future belongs to fast, intuitive, AI-native tools.

5. Recovery Was Finally Treated as Productive. Practices like sauna, cold plunges, and sleep optimization shifted from luxuries to essential components of a balanced fitness routine.

6. Personalization Is No Longer a Buzzword, but a Requirement. From AI-driven diet plans to wearables that track individual biometrics, consumers now expect wellness solutions that adapt to their unique bodies and lifestyles.

7. Flexible, Plant-Forward Eating Gained Momentum. As a sustainable, non-restrictive approach, incorporating more plant-based meals became a popular and effective strategy for long-term health.

These insights, grounded in the data of 2025, offer a clear path toward a healthier 2026.

Hoot: The New App Bringing Trends into Practical Successes

After a year of such dramatic change, the question is: how do you make these powerful trends work for you? The answer is Hoot.

Launched at the end of 2025, Hoot was built to solve the very problems and meet the needs that the year so clearly defined. We saw the trends, we heard the frustrations, and we created a tool that is heavily backed by the latest science and fully leverages the power of AI natively to make your wellness journey simple, accurate, and fun.

A Foundation Built on Science Your health plan shouldn't be guesswork. Hoot’s personalized plans are built on a bedrock of proven science. We use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation—widely considered the gold standard—to calculate your calorie targets. Our macro recommendations are guided by clinical research, setting protein goals that align with studies on muscle preservation and satiety, and establishing fiber targets based on established nutritional guidelines. This evidence-based approach ensures your plan is both safe and effective.

The Native AI Difference: A Leap Beyond Databases 2025 made it clear that legacy apps with their clunky, inaccurate, user-generated databases are a major barrier to success. Hoot is fundamentally different. We are an AI-native platform that replaces guesswork with intelligence.

Instead of making you scroll through flawed entries, Hoot’s AI goes directly to the source, analyzing verified nutritional information from brands and food items to ensure every calculation is as accurate as possible. But the real magic is in how our AI understands context. Through our multi-modal logging, Hoot’s AI makes intelligent estimates about your meal:

• Snap a photo, and our AI doesn't just see "salad." It visually identifies the chicken, estimates the portion of avocado, and even makes an assumption about the vinaigrette to deliver a precise calculation.

• Log with your voice or text, and our AI understands natural language. Describe your whole day's meals in one go, and Hoot will break it down for you.

This powerful AI core turns a frustrating 5-minute task into an effortless 5-second one, creating a simple and immediate feedback loop.

Guidance Without Guilt The culture shifted away from punishing diet apps in 2025. Hoot is your encouraging partner, not a drill sergeant. We use playful animations, streak tracking, and a warm, supportive tone to celebrate your progress. Every meal becomes a lesson, with a nutrition score and helpful "Hoot Says" insights that empower you to make healthier choices, free from guilt or shame.

Personalized for Your Journey Personalization was the name of the game in 2025. Hoot adapts to you. Whether your goal is weight loss, maintenance, or gain, and whether you follow a high-protein, plant-based, or flexitarian diet, our platform tailors its guidance to your unique plan.

The Bottom Line

2025 marked the year wellness became truly intelligent—fueled by AI, personalization, and empathy. As 2026 unfolds, the biggest opportunity lies in bridging technology and human behavior. From smarter calorie trackers like Hoot to adaptive fitness and gut-friendly nutrition, the future of wellness isn’t about stricter rules—it’s about smarter, simpler systems that make healthy living effortless.