The wellness forecast
The 17 biggest health & fitness trends of 2023
It’s that time of year again, when we gaze into our crystal ball – or, rather, call upon a roster of industry insiders – to bring you a definitive guide to how you’ll be eating, sweating and switching off in the months ahead. Consider this your wellness forecast
Meet the experts
01 Meat-free will mean flavourful
No longer fated to choose between dry bean burgers or strange soya creations, vegans will be treated to a veritable smorgasbord of options. Symplicity Foods’ natural, fermented zero waste ‘meats’ – created by former barbecue chef Neil Rankin – can be found everywhere, from venues such as Dishoom and Bone Daddies, to Soho House. Tindle (the first plant-based chicken ‘made with chefs, for chefs’) is expanding into UK pubs and restaurants, having already popped up at Mayfair’s Sketch, among other spots. Consider the bar officially raised.
02 You won’t need to be elite to compete
Muscled 25-year-olds will be the minority at fitness comps. Almost threequarters of racers at global sensation Hyrox are over 30, with an impressive 8% in the 50-plus band. Intimidated by the full event? There’s now an easier four-person relay option, as well as Hyrox Gym Tour taster sessions.
03 Your outfits will get smarter
‘Wearable tech should either look cool or be invisible,’ says Whoop’s Will Ahmed, whose sensor-enabled apparel range, Whoop Body, launched late last year. US start-up Asensei weaves motion-capture tech into ‘connected coaching’ gear that counts reps and monitors form, while British brand Kymira’s kit is made using ‘infrared-embedded fabrics’, which help your body produce blood-flow boosting nitric oxide. And Omorpho has a new range of ‘micro-weighted apparel’ to make your body-weight efforts that little bit sweatier.
For the 2022 season, CrossFit introduced its new ‘Levels’ concept: a numeric representation of athletes’ abilities, which makes it easier to find and compete against equal matches. Meanwhile, fitness fundraiser Battle Cancer has introduced a new, time-condensed challenge for 2023, to accommodate those with work or childcare commitments, as well as working with specialists to ensure workouts are accessible.
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