If you’ve wanted to cook healthier meals, lose weight, or get some self-help advice, chances are you’ve looked to a brand or a person to help guide you on your journey. And there's a very strong chance that person is on our annual list of the most influential people in health and fitness.
Our 2016 list makes one thing clear: Body positivity is finally mainstream. You’ll also notice plenty of household names, another indication that wellness is increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives.
We compiled this list based on a strict set of criteria—check out our methodology at the bottom of this article. And while we may not agree with everyone’s approach, we can’t deny their impact on the way we think about health.
Photo: JP Sears
100. JP Sears
The Wellness Satire King
Sears is a hard nut to crack. He’s an emotional healing coach who pokes fun at the more woo-woo side of wellness. He catapulted to internet fame in May with his spot-on satire in the viral video If Meat Eaters Acted Like Vegans. The three-minute clip has tons of memorable one-liners, including, “Broccoli, that’s what my food eats. That’s my food’s food, and I don’t appreciate you eating that.”
Photo: Whole Foods
99. Adriene Mishler
The YouTube Yogi
The actress and yoga guru is the creator of Yoga With Adriene, a YouTube channel (and lifestyle) loved by yoga newbies and experts alike. Mishler's channel has nearly 2 million followers, and it’s easy to see why: Her sequences are easy to follow and smooth, making them perfect for yogis of all levels. She kicked off 2017 with “Revolution,” 31 days of yoga videos that challenge her viewers to practice daily. We can’t wait to see what Mishler has planned for the rest of the year.
Photo: CrossFit
98. Rich Froning
The CrossFit King
A CrossFit legend and four-time winner of the “Fittest Man on Earth” title, Froning is the guy to see for training tips. His web series, What's Rich Doing?, offers CrossFit plans at every level to those who want a workout just like Froning’s. Whether his huge Instagram following comes from fitness advice, baby pics, or the many shirtless shots is unclear; suffice it to say, we’re all interested.
Photo: Fit Bottomed Girls
97. Jennipher Walters and Kristen Seymour
The Fit-Everything Gurus
Fit Bottomed Girls publishes content for real women (and men!) interested in deprivation-free health. Cofounded by Walters and Erin Whitehead (though now operated by Walters and Seymour), Fit Bottomed Girls grew from a blog to a brand—with offshoots for food and moms, a book (The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti-Diet), and a sizable social community.
Photo: Sophie Gray
96. Sophie Gray
The Feel-Good Social Media Maven
Even in today’s world of Instagram empires, Gray’s stands out. Maybe it’s her unfailing positivity or her commitment to advocating for self-love over any diet or fitness regimen. Either way, 2016 was a killer year for her. Gray's business, Way of Gray, launched a Self-Love Challenge that asked thousands of women to take small, daily steps toward self-acceptance, and we were on board.
Photo: Facebook
95. Jennifer Cohen
The Trendspotter
Cohen is all about finding workouts you can do anywhere. The fitness expert’s most recent book, Strong Is the New Skinny, goes beyond training the body to encourage readers to get stronger physically, mentally, and nutritionally. Cohen’s no-nonsense approach to getting healthy has won her many fans, and she’s a frequent guest on shows like Good Morning America and Dr. Oz. Her favorite piece of advice? “The only time greatness comes before hustle is in the dictionary.” We can’t argue with that.
Photo: Facebook
94. Sohee Lee
The Beauty and Beast
Lee wants to be your online personal trainer. But that’s not all there is to know about her. The creator of the Eat. Lift. Thrive. movement is an amateur powerlifter and certified strength and conditioning specialist who also happens to have a degree in human biology from Stanford. (The woman knows what she’s talking about when it comes to fitness.) She’s also super inspiring—Lee overcame an eight-year eating disorder after she discovered weightlifting.
Photo: Adam Rosante
93. Adam Rosante
The Surfer-Slash-Trainer
Rosante is proof that living a balanced, healthy lifestyle can be fun and affordable. His pay-what-you-can fitness classes, The People's Bootcamp, were sold out all year, and at the end of 2016, he released a new book of delicious, nutrient-packed smoothie recipes, Super Smoothie Revolution, for free. Why? This upbeat personal trainer genuinely wants to help people, not just A-list celebs and athletes.
Photo: Instagram
92. Dalai Lama
The Spiritual Guru
Last year, His Holiness the Dalai Lama coauthored a book with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and it really couldn’t have come at a better time. The Book of Joy is about how to find happiness and peace in a changing, tumultuous world, and its success proves just how many people are listening when the Dalai Lama talks about mental and spiritual health.
Photo: Tony Gaskins Jr.
91. Tony Gaskins Jr.
The Real Love Relationship Advisor
With almost 2 million fans on Facebook, Gaskins knows how to inspire the masses. The former drug dealer-turned-motivational speaker has had multiple nationwide tours, launched his own life-coach business, and written more than 20 books. His most recent, The Dream Chaser: If You Don't Build Your Dream, Someone Will Hire You to Help Build Theirs, hit shelves in late 2016. Through his work, Gaskins hopes to provide guidance in relationships, business, and self-development.
Photo: Instagram
90. Chrissy Teigen
The Supermodel Foodie
Embracing her stretch marks and sharing them with her millions of Snapchat followers, Teigen was one of body positivity's greatest champions in 2016. She's absolutely fearless when it comes to taking down internet trolls; meanwhile, her soft side shines through when she talks about her baby girl and her fertility struggles. In February 2016, Teigen's first cookbook, Cravings, debuted, and while it isn’t filled with the world’s healthiest recipes, it’s clear she has a healthy relationship with food... and with John Legend.
Photo: Steve Kamb
89. Steve Kamb
The Fitness-Is-Fun Cultivator
Everyone interested in physical fitness should feel welcome—that’s why Kamb started Nerd Fitness, a “community of underdogs, misfits, and mutants that can’t wait to help.” On a mission to promote fitness through comics and superheroes, Kamb offers intensive fitness plans, classes, and retreats, as well as free resources to help his “Rebellion” achieve their goals. It’s like the X-Men Academy but for realsies.
Photo: Yoni Freedhoff
88. Yoni Freedhoff
The Obesity Doctor
A self-described “certifiably cynical realist,” Freedhoff discusses evidence-based nutrition and weight management on his blog, Weighty Matters. The author of The Diet Fix and founder of Bariatric Medicine Institute has dedicated his career to obesity treatment and management, and toward abolishing the cycle of failure-oriented fad dieting.
Photo: Lewis Howes
87. Lewis Howes
The Successful Adjuster
After an injury sidelined his professional football career, Howes set his sights on business. His self-help podcast (which also happens to be a book by the same name), The School of Greatness, shares inspirational stories from top athletes, distinguished entrepreneurs, and talented celebs. Always interested in sharing the greatness, Howes also teaches business-growing webinars and runs a mentorship program, the School of Greatness Academy.
Photo: Facebook
86. Michael Morelli
Former Addict-Turned-Fitness Fanatic
After nearly losing his life to drug and alcohol abuse, Morelli decided to get in shape. In fewer than six months, he earned five fitness certifications. He put his knowledge to good use and created HIIT MAX, a weight-loss method that combines high-intensity workouts with a healthy diet. Beyond that, he’s also developed a line of supplements and a seven-day detox program. Morelli has even more planned for 2017, including the release of a new book, The Sweet Potato Diet.
Photo: Instagram
85. Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram
The Raw Food Proselytizer
If you’ve even been curious as to what a raw diet entails, you need to follow Carrillo-Bucaram. The FullyRaw vegan has tons of knowledge: She’s been eating this way for almost nine years and is a triple major in kinesiology, specializing in health science, raw foods, and fasting. Her book, The Fully Raw Diet, hit shelves in 2016, as did her ebook, 14-Day Body Reset. Carrillo-Bucaram also launched her own natural skin care line and is the mastermind behind FullyRaw juice—a subscription service that delivers fresh creations to your door.
Photo: Tony Robbins
84. Tony Robbins
The Motivation Dealer
Robbins has been a leader in the self-help world for decades, and this past year he proved he still has plenty of career and life wisdom to dole out. When he’s not giving motivational speeches or promoting his audio books, Robbins can be found on Instagram and Twitter, encouraging users to be kind and live their best life. His Netflix documentary, I Am Not Your Guru, came out in March 2016, and his newest book, Unshakeable, hits shelves February 28.
Photo: Jen Selter
83. Jen Selter
Instagram’s Most Famous Backside
More than just a “belfie” aficionado, Selter has transformed what started as Instagram fame (she has more than 10 million fans) into a business that includes fitness plans and workout motivation, as well as food and lifestyle tips. A virtual-community advocate, Selter encourages followers to use #Seltering and #JenSelterChallenge to stay connected.
Photo: Larry Hamilton
82. John Romaniello
Emperor of the Alphas
If you just looked at the homepage of Romaniello’s company, Roman Fitness Systems, you'd probably think he’s a stereotypical lifting bro. After all, the page asks users to pick between programs that “make people hot” and “get people huge.” It also reminds you to “choose wisely.” But that’s just Romaniello’s signature bluntness (after all, aren’t those two pretty common reasons people want to work out?) When you look beneath the surface, you quickly realize Romaniello is one of the smartest fitness experts of our time, and his style and intellect has struck a chord with thousands of devoted followers.
Photo: Michael Pollan
81. Michael Pollan
Food Philosopher
It’s hard to believe a decade has passed since Pollan published The Omnivore’s Dilemma. That book, along with Fast Food Nation and Food Politics, is credited with changing the way Americans think about their food—where it comes from and how it’s made. Now Pollan is researching a new book on another topic Americans know too little about: the psychedelic properties of plants. He’s already given us a sneak peak with a story in The New Yorker about ongoing medical trials where cancer patients take psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) to help with their anxiety.
Photo: Todd Durkin
80. Todd Durkin
Muscle Mogul
Durkin is a coach and personal trainer, but there are tons of coaches and personal trainers. Durkin is different, and not just because he works with some of the world's most elite athletes. He's different because he's constantly expanding his practice and his business, growing not only the services he provides (he gets NFL players to try yoga, which, c'mon), but the way he provides them. He has gyms, training programs, speeches, a charity, educational events, and, most recently, a stint on NBC's short-lived reality series Strong.
Photo: Eric Cressey
79. Eric Cressey
Strength Sensei
In the world of personal coaching, there aren't many bigger guns (literally) than Cressey. Though he's an accomplished powerlifter in his own right, Cressey specializes in making athletes better, healthier, and stronger. His high-performance training facility, Cressey Sports Performance, has become a small empire, and he's been able to use YouTube and Facebook to dole out advice and recommendations to people who can't make their way to his gym. All said, Cressey's a coach to thousands of people, and he's making them all stronger and more careful athletes.
Photo: Amanda Bisk
78. Amanda Bisk
The Social Vaulter
Bisk is a former pole vaulter who was diagnosed with chronic fatigue. Her illness forced her to give up the sport for good in 2012. While recovering, she discovered the benefits of yoga and bodyweight training, which she combined to create her 12-week training guide. She’s used her influence to create a robust online fitness community, which includes just over half a million Instagram followers.
Photo: Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley
77. Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley
The Clean-Eating Sisters
The sisters have taken the UK clean-eating scene by storm over the past few years. Their style is simple: They use fresh, well-sourced ingredients to create meals that make you feel energized and healthy. The dynamic duo launched their own TV series, Eating Well With Hemsley + Hemsley, in 2016, and also have their own line of products (aprons, spiralizer) and a London cafe.
Photo: Mark Sisson
76. Mark Sisson
Primal O.G.
A Paleo advocate long before it was trendy, Sisson practices what he preaches tenfold, overseeing the growth of Primal Kitchen restaurants (coming to California, Oregon, and Indiana), The Primal Blueprint book series, and the Primal Health Coach program. The former elite marathoner and triathlete also blogs regularly on Mark’s Daily Apple, covering everything from recipes and workouts to supplements and general health.
Photo: Instagram
75. Tom Daley
Diver-Turned-Lifestyle Blogger
The British diver walked away with a bronze at the London Olympics, but he managed to steal the show (and our hearts). He was back at it again in Rio, winning another bronze in men’s synchronized diving. But he’s not just an Olympic athlete; he’s also a lifestyle guru. In December he released Tom’s Daily Plan—part cookbook, part fitness plan, part self-help guide.
Photo: Facebook
74. The Final Five
The Olympic Darlings
We don't know how you would have missed it, but in case you did: The Final Five dominated the Rio Olympics. On top of breaking the record for the number of medals won by a U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman became instant role models for kids all around the country because of their strength, talent, and poise. Not bad things to be known for, if you ask us.
Photo: Joe Cross
73. Joe Cross
The Juice Man
We’re pretty sure Cross is the reason juicing went mainstream. Even though his documentary, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, was released seven years ago, it continues to inspire millions of people around the world to start their own juicing journey. Meanwhile, his latest film, The Kids Menu, tackles the issue of childhood obesity. Cross's most recent book, Juice It to Lose It, helps juicing newbies, while the newly launched juicing certification program recruits anyone passionate about wellness who wants to help inspire others.
Photo: CNN
72. Sanjay Gupta, M.D.
The Newsroom Doctor
As CNN’s chief medical correspondent in an election year when health care was one of the central campaign issues, Gupta had a busy 2016. He spent days detailing the dire consequences of repealing the Affordable Care Act and explaining why he’s now in favor of medical marijuana. He’s still a practicing neurosurgeon, plus he somehow found time to meditate with the Dalai Lama. Does this doc sleep?
Photo: Bret Contreras
71. Bret Contreras
The Glute Guy
Contreras wants to make your butt look better. The author and trainer says he developed an obsession with glutes after growing up with none to speak of. Now “The Glute Guy” develops programs and writes books to help others attain perfect posteriors. His hip-thrusting workout has undoubtedly transformed the lives—and butts—of hundreds. Contreras also holds a PhD in sports science and fills his Instagram with information about new studies, so you know those butt-sculpting workouts are science-backed.
Photo: Michelle Tam
70. Michelle Tam
Paleo Kitchen Blogger
If you’ve ever googled a Paleo recipe, one of Tam’s creations is sure to pop up. The Queen of Paleo wrote a NYT best-selling cookbook and recently launched a podcast that goes behind the scenes of her blog, Nom Nom Paleo, to dive into delicious recipes, food trends, and Tam's culinary (and nonculinary) adventures.
Photo: Mark Bittman
69. Mark Bittman
The Plant-Based Convert
The well-known food writer dropped a bombshell at the end of 2015: He was leaving his position as a columnist for The New York Times to work at Purple Carrot, a vegan meal kit company (à la Plated or Blue Apron). In May, Bittman announced he was already parting ways with the company. Six months later he was back in the spotlight again with How to Bake Everything, the latest book in his How to Cook Everything franchise.
Photo: Gretchen Rubin
68. Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Guru
In 2016, author and podcast host Gretchen Rubin continued to give followers straightforward, actionable advice for living their happiest and healthiest lives through her podcast, the Happier 2016 calendar, and her app, Better. In October Rubin spoke at the S.H.E. Summit; she also regularly interacts with readers on social media and at live speaking events.
Photo: Joel Fuhrman
67. Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
The Nutritarian
“America’s Health Coach” is all about eating right and getting enough exercise. In addition to authoring a number of weight-loss books, he’s a frequent guest on health shows and even produces his own: His program, Eat to Live With Dr. Fuhrman, premiered on PBS this past June. Fuhrman’s mantra is “salad is the main dish,” and with all his credentials, maybe it’s time to take his advice.
Photo: Kerri Walsh Jennings
66. Kerri Walsh Jennings
The Nearly Undefeated Olympian
Many people would argue that Walsh Jennings is one of the greatest American athletes of all time—she's the most decorated beach volleyball player ever, for one thing, and she's lost only one Olympic match in her 15-year career. But her influence goes way beyond that: Walsh Jennings boycotted an AVP beach volleyball event last fall after the company tried to change the rules of the game without discussing it with the players. She was advocating for the rights of athletes, and the overwhelming support she received proves that people want her to succeed.
Photo: The Fitness Marshall
65. Caleb Marshall
The King of Dance Cardio
If Zumba showed us that working out can actually be fun, then The Fitness Marshall proves breaking a sweat can be sexy (and even a little silly). In the past year, Marshall has gone from a virtual unknown to a popular YouTube personality, thanks to his dance workouts paired with pop songs. Marshall’s personality is infectious and the comments he makes about his choreo keep his subscribers (all 770,000 of them) coming back for more.
Photo: Instagram
64. Misty Copeland
The Path Paver
On top of dancing lead roles in several American Ballet Theatre productions, Copeland spent 2016 cultivating her position as a national role model and advocate for racial and body diversity. She had some help from the release of her Barbie doll and the three-part interview she did with Barack Obama, but really, it was all her.
Photo: Robb Wolf
63. Robb Wolf
The Original Paleo
If you’ve got questions about eating Paleo, Wolf is the man to ask. He uses his serious science know-how (he's a former research biochemist and review editor for the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism) to help people understand the benefits and reasoning behind following the eating plan in his podcast, speaker series, and best-selling book, The Paleo Solution. His newest book, Wired to Eat, comes out this March.
Photo: Dolvett Quince
62. Dolvett Quince
TV’s In-Demand Trainer
Despite the controversies surrounding The Biggest Loser in 2016, Quince continues to be one of the most in-demand fitness specialists and influential figures in the health and body transformation space. When he's not training contestants on the hit show, he's working on partnerships with brands like Dr. Scholl's, Trop50, and Brookstone.
Photo: Kimberly Snyder
61. Kimberly Snyder
Food-Is-Makeup Artist
Snyder’s personal health mantra is something we can all relate to (or at least hope to): Life is about progress, not perfection. In her most recent book, Radical Beauty, written with Deepak Chopra, M.D., Snyder shares practical tips to help you “progress” to your highest potential of beauty and health through sleep, natural living, and foods. She influences some of Hollywood’s biggest names (Drew Barrymore, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon) via her blog and podcast, but her newest and most important client is likely the baby she had this past year.
Photo: Mary Helen Bowers
60. Mary Helen Bowers
The Ballerina to the Stars
If you’ve taken a ballet-inspired fitness class in the last few years, you likely have Bowers to thank. After dancing with the New York City Ballet for a decade, she pirouetted onto the fitness scene after training Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan. Today she regularly teaches classes at her Ballet Beautiful studios in New York and posts two new workouts per month via an online streaming service.
Photo: YouTube
59. Kelly Starrett
The Standing Evangelist
For years Starrett, a renowned CrossFit coach and physical therapist, has preached the importance of functional fitness. He even created a movement and mobility course for CrossFit trainers, so they can craft WODs that focus on getting fit for life—not just reaching a new PR. This past year Starrett published Deskbound, a scathing critique of how much we sit and an action plan for how we can change that.