A new report shows big exercise news in the United States. In 2025, 250 million Americans age 6 and older took part in at least one sport, fitness, or leisure activity. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, or SFIA, said this was the highest number ever in its records. Overall participation also rose 1.2% from the year before. (sfia.org)
But there is also a problem. SFIA added a new way to check how often people really move each week. It found that only 32% of Americans met the federal goal for exercise. The U.S. government says adults should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, and they should also do muscle-strengthening activity on 2 days each week. So, more Americans are active now, but most still do not get enough weekly exercise for the best health benefits. (sfia.org)
Some parts of the report are hopeful. The share of totally inactive Americans fell below 20% for the first time, after seven straight years of decline. Team sports had the biggest growth and passed 90 million participants for the first time. Pickleball also kept its five-year run as the fastest-growing sport. (sfia.org)
Still, not every group is moving more. Teen inactivity for ages 13 to 17 went up by 4.4% in 2025. Women were also more likely than men to be inactive, and that gap became a little wider. These numbers show that access, cost, and opportunity still matter. The good news is that the federal guidelines also say any amount of physical activity can help. A walk, a dance class, or a game with friends can be a good start. (sfia.org)










