2016 Worldwide Fitness Trends

• January 28, 2016

Despite fluctuations in popularity of different fitness techniques, exercise should be the foundation of your WHealth. What is trending in 2016?

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has once again released the results of their Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends. The 2016 results are the tenth year that the ACSM has surveyed Health and Fitness Professionals across the globe to ascertain shifts in popularity.

Not surprisingly, tech wins the first prize this year. With the emergence of a worldwide “Wearable Technology” market estimated to be worth 6B US Dollars, this is a colossal mover. My concern: we need to see if simply bringing new technology drives exercise, or even wellness. Certainly, tracking is a powerful driver of behavior, so I’m optimistic. But before you rush out to spend thousands of dollars to quantify yourself real-time, I share my opinion that the most valuable tracker costs less than a dollar. A simple pedometer (step counter) is your most important tech acquisition, if you don’t already have one.

As a fan of our natural design, I love the persistence of body weight training at the top of the list. It has been in the top 3 for four years now. It’s safe, it’s portable and it works. My prediction: watch for the emergence on new portable suspension trainers that give you a total body work-out.

Readers of this blog will be delighted to see the stable presence of yoga in the middle of the pack. It has hovered around the #10 spot for 8 years now – a good indication of the enduring confidence that fitness experts (and enthusiasts) have in its benefits.

For your convenience, here is the full top 20 list.

1. Wearable Technology
2. Body weight training
3. High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
4. Strength training
5. Educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals
6. Personal training
7. Functional fitness
8. Fitness programs for older adults
9. Exercise and weight loss
10. Yoga (hovered around this spot for 8 years now)
11. Group personal training
12. Worksite health promotion
13. Wellness coaching
14. Outdoor activities
15. Sport-specific training
16. Flexibility and mobility rollers
17. Smart phone exercise apps
18. Circuit training
19. Core training
20. Outcome measurements

Whatever you do, move for WHealth. My adamant assertion is that you need to perform the equivalent of 10,000 steps on at least 5 days of every week. There is excellent science to demonstrate that this improves the length and quality of our lives. Step out today!

Have fun,

Roddy