Fitness Flash Report

Daily Fitness News Roundup - Updated: 2025-12-13

Peak Performance, Peak Speed

FITNESS FLASH - December 13, 2025

Strava’s 2025 data confirms: Gen Z is driving a global boom in running, lifting, and AI-guided training

TOP 3 STORIES:
1. Strava’s 2025 “Year in Sport” report shows racing, weight training, and AI coaching surging globally
Strava’s 12th annual *Year in Sport: Trend Report* finds running remains the top sport, racing participation is rising, and Gen Z is 75% more likely than Gen X to say their main motivation is a race or event.[2] Gen Z is also twice as likely as Gen X to list weight training as their primary sport, with strong uptake of AI coaching tools like Runna and Strava’s Athlete Intelligence, signaling that athletes should lean into structured run plans, strength blocks, and data-driven load management to keep progressing in 2026.[2]

2. Equinox deepens Function partnership, rolling out 160+ lab tests and AI-driven “Medical Intelligence” inside clubs
Equinox is expanding its collaboration with Function to give members preferred access to more than 160 advanced lab tests, FDA-cleared AI insights, and continuous “Medical Intelligence” tools, integrated into its programs including the women’s health-focused EQX ARC.[1] For serious athletes and high performers, this model previews a near-future norm where biomarker testing, hormone and metabolic profiling, and AI-personalized training and recovery become part of routine programming rather than elite-only extras.[1]

3. Les Mills + ukactive warn GLP‑1 users risk losing up to 50% of weight lost as lean mass without strength training
A new global review from Les Mills and ukactive reports that users of GLP‑1 weight-loss medications may lose 20–50% of total weight lost from lean tissue unless resistance training and lifestyle support are built in.[1] This underscores that anyone on weight-loss drugs—and the coaches working with them—should prioritize progressive strength training, sufficient protein intake, and performance-oriented goals to preserve muscle, bone density, and long-term athletic capacity.[1]

Flash Insight:
Data from Strava and the Les Mills/ukactive report together reinforce a clear performance trend: endurance and aesthetics are no longer enough—successful athletes are pairing structured running or sport-specific work with serious time in the weight room and smarter recovery blocks.[1][2] The rapid rise of AI coaching, lab-informed programming, and integrated health portals means the competitive edge is shifting toward those who can interpret and act on data, not just track it.[1][2] For coaches, trainers, and athletes, 2026 preparation should focus on three pillars: race-anchored planning and periodization, non-negotiable strength and muscle-preservation strategies (especially around weight loss), and selective adoption of tech that directly informs day-to-day training decisions rather than adding noise.[1][2]

Sources & Links:
[1] Club Solutions Magazine – “This Week in the Gym Industry: Leadership Moves, Luxury Wellness, Innovation & Data-Driven Fitness Trends” (Equinox x Function, Les Mills + ukactive GLP‑1 report)
URL: https://clubsolutionsmagazine.com/2025/12/this-week-in-the-gym-industry-leadership-moves-luxury-wellness-innovation-data-driven-fitness-trends/

[2] Strava Press – “Strava Releases 12th Annual Year in Sport Trend Report 2025”
URL: https://press.strava.com/articles/strava-releases-12th-annual-year-in-sport-trend-report-2025

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