Healthy Life Journal

When the calendar turns over to January of 2010, many people will begin to implement New Year’s resolutions that include some type of health and fitness goals. People vow to live healthier lives throughout the new year, whether that includes adding various forms of exercise, starting a diet, or eliminating negative habits. While each person’s decision is his or her own and must be based on personal preferences and objectives, it is interesting to note the predicted trends for the year based on past years, and those trends might be an indicator of programs that are easier to find and more reasonably priced due to popularity.

Each year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) releases a report in its last bi-monthly journal issue of the year containing projected fitness trends. The global survey is the fourth in a series and incorporates trends identified in previous surveys with responses from a survey that included trends identified by the editors of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal. All facets of the industry were included—commercial health clubs, community nonprofit health clubs, corporate wellness programs, and medical fitness centers.

The rest of the top 20 that extends past the top 12 shown in this article were, in order: wellness coaching, yoga, spinning, boot camp, physician referrals, stability ball, balance training, and comprehensive health promotion programming in the workplace.

Compared to the last three years, the authors of the survey noted several interesting trends: Items like group personal training, which is employer-friendly and more reasonably priced than individual personal training, moved up the list from the bottom of the top 20 to the #10 spot on the list in 2010. In addition, functional fitness for older adults moved up the list, as did wellness coaching, yoga, and physician referrals. And items that continue to maintain their popularity are Pilates and sport-specific training.

The top item on the list is educated and experienced fitness professionals, who continue to be in strong demand due to the varying needs of people looking to begin or maintain fitness programs. The need to practice a personalized fitness routine requires a qualified professional to cater to the needs and wants of that person and ensure exercise and diet plans are fine-tuned. Those who are serious about their fitness goals often seek the help of a professional to streamline the process.

Strength training is also on the rise, though it was once primarily used by bodybuilders. However, studies showing the advantages of muscle building in the bone strengthening, toning, and anti-aging have increased its popularity greatly in the past few years.

The programs in the top twelve tend to center around education and stem from state and federal programs with a focus on particular issues affecting the health of the community, state, or nation. Childhood obesity has been on the rise for decades, and its dangers have prompted programs in schools and communities that focus on healthy eating and exercise habits for children. Senior fitness is also important as the baby boomer generation ages and seeks programs to stay healthy despite the aging process. Functional fitness also falls into the category of catering to older adults with a focus on strength training.

More specific health trends include the flexibility training of Pilates, strength and endurance of sport-specific training, and middle-body muscle strengthening of core training. And outcome measurements consist of fitness training based on disease management and medical conditions that require specific health needs be addressed to aid in wellness.

It should be noted that trends are simply a gauge as to the present and future of the industry, and while items on the list can be used as ideas for one’s own personal fitness goals, it is important to find the most appropriate programs and focus on one’s individual objectives.