Strength Training Is Officially Beating Weight Loss as America's Top Fitness Goal

If you've been thinking about your New Year's fitness goals, you're not alone—and you might be surprised by what millions of other Americans are planning. A major wellness survey just dropped some fascinating insights about how people are approaching fitness in 2026, and the results show a real shift in what we actually care about when it comes to exercise.

Strength Training Tops the List

Here's the headline: 42.3% of survey respondents said their primary 2026 health goal is to get physically stronger—making it the top response by far. Even more telling, 46.5% of people said they're planning to lift more weights in the New Year, which was by far the most popular answer when asked what type of workouts they want to do more of.

This marks a real turning point. "Strength training is the new weight loss," according to Danny King, Director of Recovery and Performance at Life Time, the wellness company that conducted the survey. "People are training more intentionally, to feel and perform better for longer—and pairing that with smarter recovery and objective health metrics."

What's happening here isn't just a trend—it reflects a deeper shift in how we think about fitness. Instead of chasing a number on the scale, people are focusing on what their bodies can actually do and how they feel day-to-day.

Longevity Is the Real Motivator

Beyond pure strength, there's another major driver behind these fitness goals: longevity. About 33.2% of respondents cited longevity as a leading health motivation, alongside overall fitness at 46.4%. Looking ahead, 37.8% of respondents identified longevity as the wellness trend most likely to define 2026.

This makes sense when you think about it. Building muscle and strength isn't just about looking good—it's about maintaining independence, staying active, and feeling capable as we age.

The Bigger Picture on Wellness

The survey, conducted from December 1-22, 2025, among more than 750 general consumers and Life Time members, also revealed that 82% of respondents plan to focus more on overall health and wellbeing in 2026—a 7% increase from the previous year.

Beyond the gym, people are getting serious about other wellness basics too. Nearly 69% of respondents said they'd choose always getting eight hours of sleep over eating unlimited snacks without gaining weight, showing that sleep quality is becoming a genuine priority.

What About AI and Other Tools?

The survey also found cautious interest in emerging fitness technologies. About 35.3% of respondents reported using AI tools regularly or occasionally to support workouts, nutrition, or health, with another 36.4% saying they might be curious to explore AI-supported fitness tools in 2026. Among those using AI, the most common applications were workout programming and nutrition guidance.

When it comes to learning about fitness trends, certified professionals remained the top source, but social media ranked a close second—ahead of friends, family, news sources, and podcasts.

Solo or Social?

One more interesting finding: when it comes to actually working out, preferences vary. About 50.5% prefer exercising solo, while 33.6% favor group fitness classes. So whether you're a solo lifter or a group class enthusiast, you're in good company.

The bottom line? Americans heading into 2026 are thinking smarter about fitness. They're prioritizing strength and longevity over quick fixes, investing in recovery, and taking a more intentional approach to how they move their bodies. If you've been on the fence about starting a strength training routine, the data suggests you're joining a much larger movement.