Despite having greater access to exercise and wellness tools than ever before, barely half of millennials rate their overall level of wellness as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, according to new research.

Findings from The Wellness Deficit – Millennials & Health in America – a study of 5,000 US young people aged 14 to 34 – looked at changing wellness habits, with a particular focus on exercise. The study, commissioned by Technogym, offers business insight into how millennials’ habits can impact the health and fitness industry, as well as the opportunities this may present.

The research found an increased eagerness to maintain physical health among millennials, with tracking technology and group exercise classes shown to be particularly popular among this demographic. More than 70 per cent of millennials value the benefits of being able to track their exercise progress wherever and whenever, with the use of mobile app technology set to increase from 56 per cent to 74 per cent by 2016.

The rise to prominence of boutique gyms offering high-quality exercise classes has been closely linked to the preferences of millennials, and the research supports this with 70 per cent of respondents saying that group exercise provides greater motivation. This chimes with a recent presentation from Les Mills UK CEO Martin Franklin, who said compelling group exercise propositions will be key to capitalising on the latent potential of the millennial market.

The research concludes that millennials represent the future of wellness, and their choices will ultimately determine how wellness evolves over the next 10 to 20 years. Also key, will be the ability of fitness providers to adjust to fast-changing market conditions and the

death of traditional demographics.

“Closing the wellness deficit must be a priority, not only for individuals but for entities with a stake in the wellness of the next generation, whether this be government, education or business,” said Nerio Alessandri, president and founder of Technogym.

“At Technogym we have focused on providing innovative products and technologies, and emphasising the social aspect of wellness and sport to keep people engaged, and we will continue to evolve our offerings in these areas as consumers’ wellness habits change.”

To read the full research paper, click here.