This week on This Week in Fitness, we break down one of the largest technology deals in global fitness, as Playlist and EGYM announce a $7.5 billion merger. We also cover Fitness World’s $50 million expansion and franchise launch, major moves in women’s health programming, new data on menopause and GLP-1 users, and a protein-powered pizza test that shows how far wellness culture is reaching.

Stories Covered:
• Playlist × EGYM — A $7.5B merger backed by $785M in new equity aims to build a fully integrated global fitness and wellness technology platform.

• Fitness World — Announces a $50M investment to support national expansion and the launch of its first franchise program.

• Equinox — Launches EQX ARC, a women’s health initiative integrating biometric insights from ŌURA and clinical testing from Function.

• Peloton × Respin Health — New study data shows 84% of participants experienced symptom improvement during perimenopause and menopause.

• Purpose Brands — Survey data highlights shifting health priorities, generational differences in fitness engagement, and high activity levels among GLP-1 users.

• Papa Johns — Tests a one-day Protein Crust Pizza, signaling how protein-forward and wellness messaging is entering mainstream food.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.
#fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry #gymowners

How should gyms engage and retain members using GLP-1 medications in 2026? Behaviour science expert Dr. Heather McKee joins host Krissy Vann to break down what operators must understand as motivation, willpower, and progress cues shift for this growing member segment.

As Myzone’s Motivation Science Advisor, Dr. McKee brings global experience designing behaviour-driven programs for more than 100 companies. In this episode, she explains:

• what GLP-1 members actually need when weight is no longer the main driver
• how reduced reliance on willpower reshapes habit formation and long-term adherence
• early behavioural signals that indicate satisfaction or disengagement
• how gyms can create supportive environments without requiring medication disclosure
• how to redefine progress so members still feel momentum as body changes stabilise

This conversation gives fitness operators, coaches, and executives a clear, science-backed playbook for keeping GLP-1 members engaged long term.

This Week In Fitness crunches the latest fitness business headlines, all in under five minutes. Hosted by Krissy Vann, the show delivers a fast, factual snapshot of what’s shaping the fitness and wellness industry for operators, executives, and decision-makers.

In this episode:

-24 Hour Fitness brings founder Mark Mastrov back as Owner and Executive Chair following an acquisition with LongRange Capital

-OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, a new experience designed to help users navigate health information using connected medical records and wellness data

-Planet Fitness is named the top-ranked fitness brand on USA Today’s America’s Best Customer Service list for 2026

-PVOLVE enters the New Year with a campaign focused on consistency, adherence, and long-term movement

-Zumba launches a global campaign highlighting music-driven motivation and emotional engagement

-GymNation takes experiential fitness to new heights with the world’s highest gym class in Riyadh

-StarCruises partners with Under Armour to launch a fitness-focused cruise experience

-Plus, the launch of Smittyville, a new podcast for personal trainers hosted by Fitness World CEO Chris Smith and produced by All Things Fitness and Wellness

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

#fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry #gymowners

As the fitness industry enters 2026, operators are navigating growth, pressure, and rapid change.

In this episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, host Krissy Vann speaks with Liz Clark, President and CEO of the Health & Fitness Association, about what leaders need to know right now.


As the fitness industry enters 2026, operators are navigating renewed growth alongside rising expectations, policy shifts, and evolving member demands.
In this episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, host Krissy Vann sits down with Liz Clark, President and CEO of the Health & Fitness Association, for a grounded conversation on where the industry stands and where it’s headed.

The discussion covers what became clear for operators over the past year, where businesses are feeling the most pressure today, and where resilience and opportunity may be underestimated. Liz also shares insights on advocacy priorities, the expanding role of fitness in public health, technology and data considerations, and what leaders should be focused on as they plan for 2026.

This episode is designed for fitness operators, executives, and industry leaders looking for clarity—not noise—as they navigate the year ahead.
#fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry #gymowners

The final This Week In Fitness of 2025 breaks down the biggest fitness business stories shaping the industry as we head into 2026. Hosted by Krissy Vann, the episode covers how brand strategy, culture, consumer behavior, and GLP-1 medications are influencing the future of fitness.

In this episode:
-Planet Fitness returns to Times Square for its 11th New Year’s Eve sponsorship, reinforcing its mass-market strategy

-Crunch Fitness launches its music-driven “Feel More” campaign, positioning gyms as cultural and social spaces

-24 Hour Fitness introduces “Results Your Way,” emphasizing personalization, recovery, and sustainable progress

-New ResearchAndMarkets data shows GLP-1 medications will continue reshaping fitness programming and member expectations in 2026

-Health & Fitness Association survey finds Americans plan to spend $60B on fitness in 2026, framing exercise as preventive healthcare

This episode closes out 2025 with a clear signal for operators: fitness is no longer seasonal, optional, or purely aesthetic. It’s cultural, clinical, and increasingly central to how consumers define health.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

00:00- Intro
00:15- Planet Fitness returns to Times Square
01:02- Crunch Fitness launches Feel More Campaign
01:50- 24 Hour Fitness introduces “Results Your Way"
02:48- GLP-1 medications
03:46- Health & Fitness Association survey

#fitnessbusiness #gymowners #fitnessindustry #gymlife

In this episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, Krissy Vann sits down with Lee Robinson, VP of Sales at ABC Fitness, to break down gym membership trends, member behavior, and what the data from 2025 reveals about running a successful gym in 2026.

The conversation explores why Gen Z gym members now account for nearly half of new gym joins, how their expectations differ from previous generations, and where gym owners may be misreading what this audience values. Lee also explains why gym engagement and gym cancellations are both increasing, and how click to cancel is reshaping how members think about flexibility, loyalty, and commitment.

They discuss why fitness studios faced more challenges with new member acquisition but saw stronger member retention, and what traditional gyms can learn from the way studios build relationships. The episode also covers early GLP 1 fitness trends, including how weight loss medications may be influencing attendance patterns, programming expectations, and long term member behavior.

Pricing and payments are a major focus, with Lee sharing what the data shows about gym pricing, price sensitivity, and perceived value. He also explains why payment behavior, neobanks, and rising ACH returns are becoming critical but often overlooked indicators for gym owners.

The episode closes with a forward looking discussion on gym industry trends for 2026, including the mindset shifts operators need to make, what to stop doing, and which gym metrics and behavioral signals leaders should be watching to succeed with the next generation of members.

This episode is designed for gym owners, multi unit fitness operators, and fitness industry executives who want a data informed view of where the gym business is heading in 2026.

Connect with Lee Robinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-r-806998141/
Connect with Krissy Vann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krissyvann/
#gym #gymowners #fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry

This week on This Week in Fitness, host Krissy Vann covers the key business stories shaping the fitness and wellness industry as 2025 comes to a close, including:

-Noom expanding further into preventive health with microdose GLP-1s, behavioral coaching, and biomarker testing

-Weight Watchers launching a redesigned platform that integrates GLP-1 prescribing, nutrition, coaching, fitness content, and community

-ABC Fitness Wellness Watch Q4 2025, with new data on joins, cancellations, engagement, community, payments, and AI adoption across 40 million members

-Oura’s 2025 Year in Review, highlighting global trends in sleep, movement, stress, and cardiovascular health

-The Edge Fitness Clubs announcing a $25 million reinvestment in equipment, amenities, and branding

-Life Time West Boca, the company’s first adults-only boutique club in Florida, introducing CTR and a recovery-forward design

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

00:00- Intro
00:15- Oura’s 2025 Year in Review
01:21- ABC Fitness Wellness Watch Q4 2025
02:31- Noom expanding with microdose GLP-1s
03:12- Weight Watchers launching a redesigned platform
03:52- Edge Fitness Clubs announcing a $25 million reinvestment
04:26- Life Time West Boca

#gym #gymowners #fitnessbusiness

In this episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, Krissy Vann sits down with Ntiedo Etuk, Founder and CEO of FitGrid, to unpack how boutique fitness is being evaluated today and what needs to change as the industry heads into 2026.

The conversation explores the growing push for standardized, cross-platform KPIs, why fragmented data has become a challenge for operators and investors alike, and how the lack of shared benchmarks impacts valuations, diligence timelines, and strategic decision-making.

Ntiedo also shares insight from the Boutique Fitness Capital Markets Briefing, where investors representing hundreds of billions in capital discussed what they are looking for next. Together, they break down current investment appetite, the true state of the category, and where boutique operators face both risk and opportunity in the coming cycle.

This episode is designed for fitness executives, operators, and investors looking for a clearer, data-informed view of where boutique fitness stands and where it’s heading next.

Connect with NT: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ntiedoetuk/

Connect with Krissy Vann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krissyvann/