Fitness vs wellness: what’s the difference?

Fitness vs. wellness: What’s the difference?

When we talk about health, what springs to mind? For some, it might be our bodies and minds working as they should; for others it might be improving our fitness levels through activity or keeping on top of our diets. Health is an umbrella term that covers a range of areas, but there are two subheadings in particular that can help to sum up health to us: fitness and wellness.

The definition of fitness is ‘the state of being physically healthy and strong’.[1] When we’re talking about fitness, we’re referring to a physical state – someone’s cardiovascular health, their muscular strength, their endurance levels when exercising and their general physical health.

On the other hand, the meaning of wellness, according to The Global Wellness Institute, is ‘the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health’.[2] The main part of wellness is that it’s actively pursued, as opposed to fitness, which can be a result of someone’s lifestyle choices.

Another key difference is that fitness is about physical health while wellness focuses on holistic health. Holistic health refers to health that interconnects social, mental and physical health, so focusing on the whole person rather than specific symptoms.

• Fitness is being physically healthy and strong.
• Wellness is pursuing activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to holistic health.
• Holistic health is the connection between social, mental and physical health.

As a personal trainer and online coach, fitness is the main realm in which I work, but wellness plays a huge part in our ability to improve our fitness. With my clients, we often have to start with wellness, in order to put them in a happier and more motivated place to embark on their fitness goals.

Fitness goals vs. wellness goals

A fitness goal and a wellness goal can look completely different, but there’s some overlap across the two. For example, a fitness goal might be to run a 5km race in under 30 minutes, while a wellness goal might be to improve your sleep. On the surface these goals might not seem similar, but to achieve some of our fitness goals we might need to focus on a wellness goal too. In this instance, getting more sleep can improve your recovery from your physical activity and therefore make you better prepared to push the intensity on your next 5km run.

If you’re not sure how to set out fitness and wellness goals, consider a fitness goal as a measurement of your fitness levels, such as lifting X amount of weight in the gym, drinking more water or stretching for 10 minutes every day to improve your mobility. As for wellness goals, these take a more holistic approach and can include social and mental goals too, such spending more time in nature, volunteering for a local charity or journalling for five minutes daily.

Fitness vs. wellness benefits

Both fitness and wellness have fantastic benefits for our overall health. When we focus on our fitness our overall health can improve, which can lead to an improvement in our quality of life. Similar results come from focusing on improving our wellbeing too. It’s important to recognise that a surplus in one doesn’t negate the need for the other. For example, we can exercise regularly, have a healthy blood pressure and eat a nutritious diet, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be in a good headspace mentally. Likewise, prioritising our wellbeing through meditation, spending time with loved ones and taking social media breaks won’t necessarily improve our physical health.

Combining fitness and wellness

If you can combine both fitness and wellness, then you’re onto a winner. In 2024, the popularity of taking care of ourselves physically is rising, with a new world record of 840,318 people applying for the public ballot for the London Marathon 2025.[3]A priority on our wellbeing should also be at the forefront. Luckily the two can be done seamlessly; it’s just about finding the balance. For example, if you’re looking for ways in which you can improve your physical and mental health, start with the gut. The gut-brain axis is the term used to describe the connections between our gut and our brain, with the gut often being referred to as our ‘second brain’. If our gut is functioning well, we should be more prepared for physical activity which supports our fitness levels. But a healthy, functioning gut also has benefits for our mental health, with the gut producing around 95% of our body’s serotonin, the ‘happy hormone’.[4]

Here's a list of ways you can combine both fitness and wellness:

• Attend a group fitness class and meet like-minded individuals.
• Exercise outdoors to increase the time you spend in nature.
• Eat a nutritious diet full of micronutrients to aid your physical health and help you feel more energised throughout the day.
• Exercise during the day can improve your sleep at night, helping you to feel refreshed the next day.
• Stretch or do a yoga workout to increase your mobility and flexibility, and practise mindfulness.

With the combination of both fitness and wellness activities in your lifestyle, you can look forward to a happier, healthier you.