Unlike other fitness fads, Americans still love using their treadmills for exercise.

"You may be surprised to learn that the treadmill was invented as a prison torture device in 19th-century England. Or maybe you're not surprised, depending on your feelings about huffing and puffing as you trod along on an automatic belt to nowhere. Still, it's a little wild to realize that upward of 50 million Americans willingly use a device each year that was conceptualized to make criminals suffer. A lot of people are gluttons for punishment, though."

"Exercise fads constantly come and go. In 2025, that means spin classes are out, Pilates and strength training are in, and the Thighmaster is probably sitting somewhere in your great aunt's basement. Americans tend to treat fitness as a consumer product to be used and, once we get bored or something better comes along, tossed aside. Yes, exercise science evolves, and doctors' recommendations on the best ways to stay fit change over time,"

"Data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, a trade association for the sporting goods industry, shows 56.8 million Americans used a treadmill in 2024. That is a ... 0% change from 2019. People use the treadmill at about the same rates as they jog or lift free weights. The only sporting activity that's more popular is walking."

Treadmills originated as a 19th-century English prison torture device yet are now widely adopted for voluntary exercise. Approximately 56.8 million Americans used a treadmill in 2024, representing no change from 2019, and about 18.4% of the population ages six and up use a treadmill at least once a year. Treadmill participation rivals jogging and free-weight lifting and trails only walking in popularity. Participation levels have remained consistently high over decades of tracking, with data recorded continuously since 2008. Treadmill use spans diverse ages, demographics, geographies, and income levels.

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