The American Council on Exercise (ACE) announced its top 2012 Fitness Trends to Watch as identified by its extensive network of personal trainers, exercise scientists, group fitness experts, allied health providers, and lifestyle and weight management coaches. Among the top were increased obesity awareness and whole-life training
ACE is America's leading authority on fitness and the world's largest nonprofit fitness and personal trainer certification, continuing education and training organization. More than 1,500 experts uncovered an encouraging shift in the public's understanding of the gravity of the nation's obesity epidemic as well as a growing trend to marry traditional fitness programs with overall life coaching for improved total health, among other key findings.
“While there is still much more work to be done, we are encouraged by the positive attitude change among consumers, which will hopefully foster important fitness-related behavioral and lifestyle modifications,” said ACE Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. “In the year ahead, personal trainers and other fitness professionals will be called upon to provide more coaching focused on overall health and well-being to spur this momentum and ACE will support this effort by continuing to offer the industry's most innovative, research-based professional fitness certifications, education and information.”
The following is a sampling of ACE's 2012 Fitness Trends to Watch. For the full list, visit www.acefitness.org/2012Trends.
Obesity awareness: Losing weight will continue to be the primary reason consumers seek personal training support as the public responds to the expanded messaging concerning the dangers of physical inactivity and obesity. The recently released Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index report that showed a modest improvement in the nation's obesity rates for the first time in more than three years is a very encouraging sign. However, three out of five Americans are still overweight or obese, requiring more work to be done. ACE remains committed to its 25-year vision to reverse the obesity trend through involvement of communities, businesses, and government.
Whole-life training: Lifestyle coaching will become a bigger trend with more personal trainers looking to holistically improve client lifestyle and expanding their education and training to include this skill set. Additionally, fitness facilities will hire nutritionists and other allied healthcare professionals such as physical therapists and psychologists to serve the expanding needs of their health-conscious members including wellness, nutrition and stress management programs.
Behavior modification: While great strides have been made in health education, the average consumer still believes the best way to lose weight is by following a restrictive or fad diet. The recently introduced ACE Integrated Fitness Training® (ACE IFT®) Model incorporates tools personal trainers can use to help them identify appropriate strategies for working with each client to enhance goal setting, motivation, adherence, and rapport. Educational campaigns and programs such as ACE's IFT model, “Personal Training. Reinvented(TM)”, and the ACE Lifestyle & Weight Management Coaching certification will prepare fitness professionals to help consumers better understand that there is no quick fix to getting lasting results.
Community collaboration: Access to fitness services and education will continue to expand in local communities including activities in gyms, parks and recreation centers. In line with the key objectives ACE presented in its 2011 Vision, local leaders are taking a more active role to address health issues in their communities. This includes proactive measures through school-based education programs and engagement with low-income and at-risk families. ACE supports national initiatives such as Joining Forces, which provides fitness resources for military families and Let's Move!, which aims to encourage young people and their families to be more physically active to help them avoid becoming part of the nation's disturbing obesity trend.
Advanced professional education: Fitness professionals will place increased emphasis on continuing education as an integral action item in further developing their fitness training knowledge, skills and abilities. Because of the valuable education tools and resources offered by certifying organizations like ACE throughout a professional's career, fitness and health clubs will continue to recognize the importance of hiring skilled employees who hold NCAA-accredited fitness credentials.
