Popular Workouts and Workout Styles Analyzed from 85 Million Exercise Logs
Which popular workouts do BurnFit users love the most?
Comparing differences in popular workouts by country and preferred workouts by country offers a fascinating glimpse into unique global fitness habits.
BurnFit, the workout tracking app with over 1 million users worldwide and 85 million cumulative workout logs, analyzed approximately 4.5 million workout logs recorded by global users over the past 3 months.
Here are the Top 10 popular workouts chosen by users in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Global English-speaking region!
🏆 Top 10 Popular Workouts at a Glance
Rankings are based on the total number of workout logs recorded by users in each region over the past 3 months.
| Rank | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 🌐 Global English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 🥇 | Lat Pulldown (13.8%) | Bench Press (18.9%) | Lat Pulldown (16.0%) | Lat Pulldown (15.4%) |
| 2nd 🥈 | Dumbbell Lateral Raise (13.3%) | Lat Pulldown (14.4%) | Seated Cable Row (12.8%) | Dumbbell Lateral Raise (12.8%) |
| 3rd 🥉 | Bench Press (10.6%) | Dumbbell Lateral Raise (12.3%) | Treadmill (10.0%) | Seated Cable Row (11.0%) |
| 4th | Cable Pushdown (10.0%) | Chest Press Machine (8.7%) | Dumbbell Lateral Raise (9.7%) | Bench Press (10.2%) |
| 5th | Seated Cable Row (9.7%) | Incline Dumbbell Bench Press (8.2%) | Bench Press (9.1%) | Cable Pushdown (9.7%) |
| 6th | Leg Extension (9.0%) | Incline Dumbbell Curl (8.0%) | Chest Press Machine (8.8%) | Leg Extension (9.6%) |
| 7th | Chest Press Machine (8.6%) | Seated Cable Row (7.7%) | Shoulder Press Machine (8.7%) | Treadmill (9.1%) |
| 8th | Treadmill (8.5%) | Barbell Back Squat (7.4%) | Pec Deck Fly Machine (8.5%) | Chest Press Machine (7.7%) |
| 9th | Pull-up (8.4%) | Pull-up (7.3%) | Dumbbell Bench Press (8.3%) | Leg Press (7.4%) |
| 10th | Pec Deck Fly Machine (8.1%) | Leg Extension (7.1%) | Rear Deltoid Fly Machine (8.1%) | Barbell Back Squat (7.3%) |
* Data for the Global English-speaking region combines logs from the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
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💡 3 Key Insights from the Top 10 Data
- 1. The Undisputed Favorite: ‘Lat Pulldown’ 👑
- It took 1st place in South Korea, Taiwan, and the English-speaking world, while securing 2nd place even in chest-focused Japan. Data proves it is the go-to exercise machine for gym-goers, from beginners to advanced lifters.
- 2. Essential Upper Body ‘Big 3’ 💪🏻
- Lat Pull down (Back), Dumbbell Lateral Raise (Shoulders), and Bench Press (Chest) secured TOP 5 spots across all regions. While specific rankings varied slightly, the essential formula for building upper body strength remains universal.
- 3. Free Weight Fans (Japan) vs. Machine Loyalists (Taiwan) 🏋️♂️
- Japan leans heavily toward free weights and isolation movements (e.g., Bench Press, Incline Dumbbell Bench Press, Incline Dumbbell Curl). Conversely, Taiwan favors safe, straightforward machines (e.g., Chest Press, Shoulder Press, Pec Deck Fly), which account for over half of their Top 10 list.
💪 Preferred Target Muscle Groups by Country
Based on the Top 10 exercise results, here are the top 3 preferred target muscle groups logged by lifters in each country.
| Category | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 🌐 Global English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 🥇 | Back (17.7%) | Chest (20.9%) | Back (17.0%) | Arms (17.4%) |
| 2nd 🥈 | Arms (17.4%) | Back (16.8%) | Chest (16.5%) | Back (16.8%) |
| 3rd 🥉 | Chest (16.6%) | Arms (16.4%) | Shoulders / Cardio | Shoulders (16.3%) |
| Highlights | Upper body frame focus | High chest focus | Back focus & machine use | Well-balanced routine |
💡 Key Takeaways by Muscle Group
- The English-Speaking World’s Unique Love for ‘Arm Workouts’
- Arms ranked as the #1 most preferred target muscle group across major English-speaking countries, including the US (17.2%), UK (18.3%), and Canada (18.1%).
- Golden Balance of Upper Body Muscles
- Users in English-speaking regions showed a remarkably even split across Arms, Back, Shoulders, and Chest (15–18% each), building balanced upper-body strength without overemphasizing a single area.
- Consistent Lower Body Workout Ratio
- Lower body training held a steady 14.1%–15.7% share across English-speaking countries, demonstrating that users maintain lower body training alongside upper body routines.
🔍 Workout Styles & Characteristics by Country
1. 🇰🇷 South Korea: Upper Body Frame Focus & Cardio Integration
- Upper Body Frame (Back & Shoulders) Focus: #1 Lat Pull down (13.8%) and #2 Dumbbell Lateral Raise (13.3%) combined for 27.1% of all logs, showing a strong emphasis on building a wide back and broad shoulder frame.
- Cardio Tracking Habits: Treadmill (#8, 8.5%) entered the Top 10, revealing a strong habit among Korean users to systematically log cardio sessions right after weight training.
2. 🇯🇵 Japan: Chest Hyper-Focus & Detailed Isolation
- High Chest Workout Ratio: Chest exercises accounted for 35.8% of Top 10 logs: #1 Bench Press (18.9%), #4 Chest Press Machine (8.7%), and #5 Incline Dumbbell Bench Press (8.2%).
- Preference for Arm Isolation: Incline Dumbbell Curl (#6, 8.0%) broke into the top rankings—a rare sight in other regions. Japanese lifters favor detailed dumbbell movements for maximum muscle isolation.
3. 🇹🇼 Taiwan: Back Dominance & Machine Preference
- Top-Tier Back Workouts: Lat Pull down (16.0%) and Seated Cable Row (12.8%) swept the #1 and #2 spots.
- High Treadmill Rank & Machine Preference: Treadmill took 3rd place (10.0%), while machines like Chest Press, Shoulder Press, and Pec Deck Fly filled out the Top 10, combining machine stability with cardio routines.
4. 🌐 Global English-Speaking Region: Balanced Routine
- Even Distribution: Logs are evenly distributed across Back, Shoulders, Chest, Arms, and Lower Body without leaning heavily toward a single muscle group.
- Harmony of Free Weights & Machines: Beside core staples like Lat Pulldowns, Lateral Raises, and Bench Presses, lifts like Barbell Back Squats, Leg Presses, and Cable Pushdowns were logged consistently, highlighting a well-rounded fitness culture.
🔥 Epilogue
Analyzing 4.5 million workout logs revealed distinct exercise habits and workout styles across global fitness communities. Primary workout choices naturally reflect local gym cultures and preferences.
Planning a workout today? Track your favorite exercises and log your progress systematically with the BurnFit app!
Image Source: GIPHY, BurnFit
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