Ms. Missy Yang, Country Manager of Garmin Thailand, said that in 2025, people increasingly prioritized health and exercise, turning to technology to better understand their bodies and train more effectively. Data from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) also indicates that wearable health technology will remain a global fitness trend in 2026.
"Technology that continuously delivers accurate and precise health data inspires people to keep moving forward and to 'Beat Yesterday' by surpassing their past performance in their own way every day. Global fitness activities have increased by 8%, while hybrid training, strength workouts, and racket sports are rising trends in Asia."
According to the Garmin Connect Data Report 2025, Garmin users worldwide increased their recorded activities by 8% compared to last year. The top five popular sports this year are running, walking, cycling, strength training, and cardio. Currently, users in the Asia region are embracing a more balanced blend of cardio and strength training. Meanwhile, racket sports continue to enjoy sustained popularity.
In Thailand, the most popular activities remain running, walking, and strength training, respectively. Meditation showed the highest growth this year, soaring 148% from the previous year, reflecting increased Thai interest in balancing body and mind. This was followed by badminton growing 116%, tennis up 65%, and Pilates rising 35%.
Among Garmin users worldwide, over 50% walk an average of more than 8,000 steps daily. Hong Kong ranks first with an average of 10,663 steps per day, followed by South Korea with 9,969 steps, and Spain with 9,937 steps. Thailand's average stands at 7,120 steps per day.
Regarding strength workouts, detailed data shows women perform strength training 6% more frequently than men. In Asia, strength training grew by 27%, with Thailand leading at 30%, surpassing cycling for the first time and rising to the third most popular sport.
Racket sports—including pickleball, badminton, table tennis, and padel—saw a 67% increase in global activity, with growth more than doubling in Asia. Meanwhile, health tracking data continues to gain attention.
The 2026 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends report reveals that wearable technology remains the number one fitness trend for the fifth consecutive year, with growing interest in advanced health metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV), sleep data, and VO2 Max. Fitness apps rank fourth, helping users establish consistent exercise habits.