The global fitness industry represents one of the most powerful engines for economic development and community health in the modern world.

In mere decades, our industry has evolved from a niche pursuit of “getting fit” into a fundamental pillar of modern life, touching billions of people across every continent. What was once confined to gyms and athletic clubs has expanded into a dynamic ecosystem encompassing digital platforms, wearable technology, wellness tourism, mental health integration, and community-driven movement cultures. This transformation reflects a worldwide awakening: health is not just the absence of disease, but the active cultivation of vitality, longevity, and quality of life.

The global wellness economy has surpassed $6.3 trillion, with fitness and recovery sectors among its fastest-growing segments. Yet beyond these numbers lies something more meaningful, which is a fundamental shift in how societies prioritize wellbeing. The industry is witnessing the mainstreaming of what it has long championed: that investment in physical and mental fitness yields returns extending far beyond the individual.

At the heart of this movement are the local health clubs, gyms, studios, and boutique fitness centers that form the backbone of communities worldwide. These businesses are economic engines, creating millions of jobs for franchisees, operators, trainers, coaches, nutritionists, and support staff. In growing economies across Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America, the massive Anytime Fitness growth we have seen represents accessible entrepreneurship opportunities that generate stable employment while requiring modest infrastructure. Of the 400+ new units we opened globally in the last 12 months, many represent emerging global economies.

A single gym creates a multiplier effect throughout its community, employing local residents, sourcing from regional suppliers, partnering with healthcare providers, and becoming a gathering place that strengthens social bonds. For young people in emerging markets, fitness careers offer dignified work with clear advancement paths. For women, fitness entrepreneurship has proven a powerful vehicle for economic independence and community leadership.

Each neighborhood that gains a health club gains skills in staffing, operations, marketing, and management that transfer across industries and build local economic capacity. Health clubs offer structured career development and internationally recognized certifications that create geographic and economic mobility. They introduce best practices and serve as anchors during economic uncertainty, as health and wellness prove remarkably resilient priorities.

Yet with growth comes responsibility. The wellness revolution must reach all communities equitably, local entrepreneurs need support with knowledge and resources, and commercial success must never overshadow the core mission: helping people live healthier, happier, more empowered lives.

The franchisees, trainers, coaches, and innovators in this community are not simply building businesses; they are architects of a healthier, more economically vibrant future. Every gym opened, every coach trained, every member welcomed represents an investment in human potential and community prosperity. The opportunity to positively impact billions of lives while creating millions of meaningful jobs is within reach.

The next chapter of the global fitness industry will be defined not just by growth, but by the wellbeing and economic stability it creates worldwide. In 2026 and beyond, Purpose Brands will deliver more clubs and studios that provide wellbeing at every level for everyone in a community: physical, mental, emotional, and economic.

The movement ahead awaits.