The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has unveiled details of its ten health and wellness trends for the coming year, with social and emotional wellbeing on the rise, and sustainability considerations increasingly influencing consumer perceptions of wellness.
‘In last year’s report, we noted that the wellness market was fast becoming a place of contradictory mindsets,’ GWS noted in its introduction to the report, with the emergence of a ‘more high-tech, medical, hyper-optimising and expensive market’, dubbed ‘hardcare’, and a ‘much simpler, low-tech, less relentlessly self-optimising and affordable wellness, where social and emotional wellbeing matter most’, dubbed ‘softcare’.
GWS added that this polarities were only likely to widen, as evidenced in its 2025 report, which “plays a critical role in identifying and understanding emerging trends and providing insights that guide product innovation and strategic direction,” according to Melodie Nakhle, chief marketing officer at Amway, which sponsored the report.
Let’s explore these 10 health and wellness trends in more detail.
1. Analog wellness, or the great ‘logging off’
With social media increasingly influencing our everyday lives, and AI and algorithms pushing us towards tailored decision-making, 2025 is likely to mark a shift towards what GWS describes as ‘analog wellness’, with people actively disconnecting from the digital world.
‘If “digital detox” is as old as the Internet, 2025 will be THE year that more people get very intentional about logging off from an online world costing us our minds, focus, humanity, social lives, financial wellness, and political stability,’ it noted.
Workplaces are enforcing ‘right to disconnect’ policies, governments are implementing restrictions on tech access in schools and among younger demographics, and wellness-focused travel and lifestyle changes are emerging.
2. Sauna reimagined
Saunas may have been around for thousands of years, but they are currently undergoing a dramatic transformation, becoming vibrant social and cultural hubs rather than isolated relaxation spaces.
The sauna experience is attracting a younger, more social demographic, with expansive communal saunas, panoramic designs, and entertainment-infused settings making heat therapy more engaging.
‘Younger consumers, craving real-life connections beyond bars and clubs, are flocking to these social saunas, which can feature DJs, drag queens, or full-blown concerts,’ GWS noted. ‘Where saunas were once a sad, dark, lonely box in a basement, today they’re lively, social cultural and entertainment hubs, often with fantastic views and in incredible locations, and people just can’t get enough.’
3. The supplement paradox
Science is increasingly meeting personalisation in the $178 billion supplements market, as trust comes to the fore. Hyper-personalised formulations, including supplements focused on longevity, menopause care, detoxification solutions, and nanotechnology-driven precision supplements are on the increase.
‘The trend also covers new detoxification methods removing microplastics, heavy metals and pollutants that can hinder nutrient absorption, and how nanotechnology could enhance supplements’ precision by targeting specific tissues or organs, bridging the gap between medical treatment and supplements’, GWS said.
4. Teen Wellness – addressing mental health in adolescents
Mental health issues are on the increase among teens, driven by societal crises and social media pressure. With this in mind, the wellness industry is increasingly prioritising teen-specific programmes, ‘to help teens and their families deal with unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression and addiction,’ GWS noted.
Community programmes, hotels, spas and other venues – how about a digital detox retreat in Bali, or surf therapy in the UK and Morocco? – are designing tailored experiences that integrate mindfulness, movement, and social connection.
‘The wellness industry has a vital opportunity and responsibility to support this generation and foster healthier, more balanced young lives, and we expect more serious teen wellness solutions will emerge in the coming years,’ according to GWS.
5. Watershed wellness
The spa and wellness industry is taking responsibility for more sustainable water use, given its high dependence on this valuable resource. According to GWS, a single drench shower uses up to 40 litres of water per guest, which can add up to 11,000 litres of water daily – or more than four million litres (over ten million gallons) annually.
‘As our planet heats, and droughts and water shortages become far more commonplace, it will become imperative for wellness establishments to do more to help preserve, replenish, and renew our water supplies, reinforcing the idea that wellness is not just selfishly about individual health, but also about the health of the planet,’ it said.
6. Augmented biology – unlocking human potential
A new paradigm is emerging in which health optimisation is being driven by technology and genetic engineering, and enhanced through biohacking, wearable robotics, and AI-driven interventions.
Brain-computer interfaces, exoskeleton-assisted mobility, and AI-powered biometric tracking are ushering in a new era of human potential. Elsewhere, genetic engineering, neuroplasticity advancements, and performance-enhancing technologies are shaping the future of health and longevity.
‘We’re on the cusp of a new era where we’re beginning to not only understand our biology more deeply, but also take active control in improving it, and we’re pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human – unlocking radically new possibilities for health, brain power, longevity and performance,’ GWS said. ‘ The future will not be defined by our limitations, but by our endless capacity for growth and improvement.’
7. Longevity and the work environment
With over-65s comprising a rapidly growing workforce – in fact, the fastest-growing workforce age group globally are now the over-75s – changes to workplace attitudes to longevity are reconfiguring traditional working arrangements.
Businesses around the world are starting to integrate flexible work arrangements, mentorship programs, and continuous learning platforms to accommodate older employees.
‘This trend explores the many seismic changes coming to work: what roles we’ll fill, how long we’ll stay, and how we’ll adapt,’ according to GWS. ‘It will all come down to maintaining the health and wellness of older workers and creating work policies that address how our responsibilities, needs and goals change with age.’
8. Addiction and wellness – rethinking harm reduction and recovery
A new era in wellness beckons, as the industry begins to tackle the issue of addiction, integrating harm reduction strategies and destigmatising support for substance and behavioural addictions.
According to GWS, this evolution is not dissimilar to that previously experienced for previous ‘taboos’ like sexual wellness and menopause. ‘ Wellness practices are increasingly being integrated into all manner of addiction treatment—from alcohol to illicit drugs to technology—and wellness companies are enthusiastically entering the harm-reduction space,’ it noted.
9. Wellness travel comes to the fore
As demand for slower, more relaxed travel solutions grows, cruises and train travel are growing in popularity, according to GWS, offering mindful travel experiences. In addition, said travel ventures are also integrating holistic wellness programs, resort-level facilities, on-board health experts, and wellness-focused excursions.
‘With both cruises and trains offering travel where the journey can be the destination, and with slowing down exactly the kind of wellbeing we most need, expect to see more wellness on cruise lines and rail lines moving forward,’ GWS noted.
10. Middle East’s wellness ambitions
The Middle East is emerging as a leader in holistic wellness, as it blends cultural heritage and tradition with forward-thinking innovations and sustainability.
A number of countries in the region are investing in transformative wellness initiatives, prioritising preventative healthcare as integral components of their development strategies, including Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
‘Extremely ambitious investment in preventative healthcare, sports, and wellness infrastructure and tourism, are creating a new global hub for wellbeing—one that once seemed unlikely,’ GWS said.
The Global Wellness Summit is an organisation that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $6.3 trillion global wellness economy. Read more here.
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