Uscreen’s new survey reveals that lack of time and motivation remain the biggest obstacles, while digital programs show long-term engagement potential
Americans are an optimistically ambitious bunch, especially when it comes to setting fitness goals.
As people are either settling into their New Year’s resolutions or moving on from them, Uscreen has just released a new survey diving into the ongoing struggle for many to stick to goals and stay consistent with fitness.
The video membership and streaming platform — often used by fitness professionals to host, monetize and distribute content under their own brand — surveyed 1,257 American adults about their workout goals, uncovering common themes and obstacles to success.
While 82 million Americans plan to spend $60 billion in support of health, exercise and fitness goals in 2026, Uscreen’s survey found that 30% of those who have set goals in the past two years haven’t been successful in sticking to them.
Despite that, 22% who previously set goals said they planned to set them again in the coming year.
The top barriers to consistency, the surveyors found, were lack of time, motivation and access.
“Staying consistent with fitness goals during the holidays comes down to planning and flexibility,” said fitness content creator Cara Metz. “Even short, manageable workouts or active family activities can keep momentum going, and setting realistic expectations helps prevent burnout and frustration.”
Adhering to exercise goals was different across demographics as well, with 42% of adults ages 18 to 34 unable to stick with their holiday fitness goal, while 34% of those ages 35 to 54 and 43% of those over age 55 were successful.
Life obstacles are very real, however; 77% of parents with children under 18 surveyed said that there are barriers that prevent them from making long-term habits from New Year’s resolutions.
Uscreen proposes that digital fitness content and online communities could be the remedies to consistency challenges, after observing that 32% of Americans said convenience and access to exclusive content would motivate them to try online fitness programs.
The brand’s Digital Fitness Membership Report found that hybrid fitness grew 41% between 2020 and 2022, with most users now preferring a 60/40 split between in-person and digital workouts.
Even though only 14% of holiday spending was on digital fitness content — compared to 51% on apparel and shoes, 38% on at-home equipment, 33% on gym memberships and 29% on wearables — Uscreen observed that subscribers remained engaged for an average of 16 months, reflecting that online fitness memberships could leave a long-lasting impact on consistency.
Over one-fifth of Americans (23%) said at-home workouts would motivate them to join an online program, while 9% said they were interested in exclusive content like community challenges.
Digital fitness continues to be a growing market, making working out more accessible to people without gym memberships or those wanting to be consistent but only have time for a quick at-home workout.
Activewear giant Alo recently made its digital fitness app free for everyone, with a library that includes Pilates, yoga, strength, mindfulness and self-care.
And a partnership between F45 and iFIT combined the boutique fitness brand’s high-intensity functional training methodology with iFIT’s immersive workout production capabilities and global platform for new custom digital content accessible outside of F45’s studios.
