ACSM每年都会发布一个重要的文献：《WORLDWIDE SURVEY OF FITNESS TRENDS》，对来年的健身项目调查后发布的未来一年的热门健身项目，非常棒的文件。以下是2012年的健身趋势按照顺序的前20名。
1. EDucated, Certified, and Experienced Fitness Professionals. Holding on to the no. 1 spot for the last 5 years, this is a trend that continues with education and certification programs that are fully accredited by national third-party accrediting organizations for health/fitness and clinical professionals. There seems to be exponential growth of educational programs at community colleges and undergraduate programs and graduate programs at colleges and universities, which have become accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences and more certification programs accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "…jobs for fitness workers are expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations [through 2018]" (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos296.htm, cited on July 25, 2011). They go on to say "Those with formal training or experience will have the best chances to get a job." The BLS defines "much faster than average" (their highest rating) as an increase of 20% or more. The BLS estimated that in 2008 there were approximately 261,100 employed fitness trainers and projects that by 2018 that number will increase to 337,900 (a difference of 76,800 workers, a 29% increase in the work force in just 10 years). It has become abundantly clear in this still slugGIsh economy that as the market for fitness professionals becomes even more crowded and more competitive, some degree of regulation either from within the industry or from external sources (i.e., government) seems to be growing as a number of states and the District of Columbia consider legislation to regulate personal trainers just as it does physicians, lawyers, and pharmacists. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and NCCA are both third-party accrediting agencies - CAAHEP for academic programs and NCCA for certification programs. Because of their independence, neither organization is directly influenced by the health and fitness industry. In 2007, CAAHEP added a Personal Fitness Trainer accreditation for certificate (1 year) and associate (2 years) degree programs. Accreditation for the academic training of the Personal Fitness Trainer joins academic program accreditation for Exercise Science (baccalaureate) and Exercise Physiology (graduate programs in either applied exercise physiology or clinical exercise physiology). Collaboration also has started within the fitness industry to address the issue of standardized facility practices. Coordinated by NSF International (www.nsf.org), this collaboration (known as the NSF Joint Committee on Health Fitness Facilities Standards) brings various sectors of the industry and the public together to resolve the issues of facility standards (i.e., the characteristics of a health fitness facility). Look for these standards to be adopted by the joint committee within the year with a voluntary certification program to follow.
2. Strength Training. Strength training moved from no. 6 on the list in 2007 to no. 4 in 2008 and remained in that position in 2009. For 2010, strength training moved up to the no. 2 position on the list and, in 2011, dropped slightly to no. 3. This is a trend for both men and women to incorporate strength training into their exercise routines. For many years, and for a good number of health clubs (both for-profit and not-for-profit), a central theme remains-strength training. Historically, there are many clients who train exclusively using weights, and there are still those who lift weights for body building. However, today, there are many other individuals (both men and women, young and old) whose main focus is on using weight training to simply increase or maintain strength. Most health and fitness professionals today incorporate some form of strength training into a comprehensive exercise routine for both apparently healthy clients and for patients with controlled disease. It is common for cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, or metabolic disease management programs to include some form of weight training in the exercise prescription. Strength training is popular in commercial, community, clinical, and corporate health and fitness facilities for men, women, and in many cases, children.
3. Fitness Programs for Older Adults. Jumping from no. 6 in 2010, fitness programs for older adults was no. 2 in the 2011 survey and now remains strong at no. 3. As the baby boom generation ages into retirement, and because they may have more discretionary money than their younger counterparts, fitness clubs may capitalize on this exponentially growing market. Falling from no. 2 in 2007 to no. 6 in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and then rebounding to no. 2 in 2011, fitness programs for older adults remain a strong trend for 2012. Falling to no. 6 between 2007 and 2008 was a bit of a surprise, considering all the discussion about the baby boom generation rapidly approaching retirement age. However, this trend continues to be strong, making the top 10 in each year of the survey. It is assumed that in retirement, people typically have greater discretionary money but have a tendency to spend it more wisely and have more time to engage in an exercise program. Health and fitness professionals should take advantage of this growing population of retired persons by providing age-appropriate exercise programs. The more active older adult can enjoy golf and even an inspired game of pickle ball. The highly active older adult (the athletic old) also can be targeted by commercial and community-based organizations to participate in more rigorous exercise programs including strength training. Even the frail elderly can improve their ability to perform activities of daily living when provided the appropriate quality and quantity of exercise. Health and fitness professionals would be wise to develop and sustain fitness programs for people of retirement age.
4. Exercise and Weight Loss. For many years, exercise professionals have been trying to infuse a regular exercise program into the caloric restriction diets of many popular weight loss programs. Most well-publicized diet programs incorporate exercise program into their daily routine of providing meals to their clients. Exercise and weight loss is a trend toward incorporating all weight loss programs with a sensible exercise program. This has been a growing trend since the survey began. In 2009, exercise and weight loss was ranked no. 18, moving to no. 12 in 2010 and no. 7 in 2011, and now sits in the no. 4 spot. It seems as though people who are in the business of providing weight loss programs will incorporate regular exercise and caloric restriction for weight control. There also is increasing amounts of evidence that shows exercise is essential in weight loss maintenance.
5. Children and Obesity. The problem with childhood and adolescent obesity continues to be a major health issue. As school systems face the reality of cutting programs, such as physical education and recess, to spend more time preparing for standardized testing in this challenging economy, this is a trend toward more programs and a potential new market for commercial and community-based organizations. Although slipping slightly to no. 4 for 2011 and no. 5 for 2012, for the sixth year, childhood obesity programming is a trend in the health and fitness industry. Health and fitness practitioners and industry leaders see the problem of childhood obesity and its associated comorbidities as an opportunity to positively influence a health issue that not only impacts the health care industry today but also has an even greater effect on the health of these children as they mature into adults. The health and fitness industry has recognized this problem and are beginning to mobilize with new programs aimed specifically at children. Corporate and clinical programs also may see this as an opportunity to develop specialized physical activity programs for children of their staff and clients.
6. Personal Training. Many of the undergraduate majors in kinesiology cited in an American Kinesiotherapy Association report (6) will turn to the personal training industry as their vocational choice. The growing number of undergraduate students seems to suggest that some students are being prepared for graduate school, but as the report cited, graduate programs seem to be reducing in size for economic and other reasons. Therefore, the students who do not go on to graduate school are finding employment in the health and fitness industry, many of them personal trainers. As more professional personal trainers are educated and become certified, they are more accessible to more people in all sectors of the health/fitness industry. Personal training has been in the top 10 of this survey for the past 6 years and top 5 for the past 5 years. Recently, much attention has been paid to the education and certification of personal trainers. In a number of states (California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, and several others), legislation has been introduced to license personal trainers, none of which has yet passed. Although there are some minor variations of personal training (e.g., small groups as opposed to one-on-one), respondents to this survey believe that personal trainers are here to stay and will continue to be an important part of the professional staff of health and fitness centers.
7. Core Training. This trend stresses strength and conditioning of the stabilizing muscles of the abdomen, thorax, and back. Core training continues to use stability balls, BOSU balls, wobble boards, and foam rollers among other pieces of equipment. Although some have speculated that core training just a few years ago was a "fad," it seems to have stood the test of time as it appears at no. 7 on our trends list for 2012. Core training typically includes the muscles of the hips, lower back, and abdomen, all of which provide support for the spine and thorax. Exercising the core muscles may enable the client or patient to improve the overall stability of the trunk and transfer that to the extremities, enabling the individual to meet the demands of activities of daily living and for the performance of various sports that require strength, speed, and agility.
8. Group Personal Training. Falling to no. 14 for 2011 from the top 10 in 2010 but rebounding to the no. 8 spot in 2012 is group personal training. This trend allows the personal trainer to still provide the personal service clients expect but now in a small group of 2 to 4, offering potentially deep discounts to each member of the group. In 2007, group personal training was no. 19 on the list. In 2008, it rose slightly to no. 15 but dropped again in 2009 to no. 19 and to no. 10 in 2010. In these still arguably challenging economic times when personal income may be decreasing, personal trainers must be more creative in the way they package personal training sessions. Training two or three people at the same time in a small group seems to make good economic sense for both the trainer and the client.
9. ZUMBA®® and Other Dance Workouts. ZUMBA® requires energy and enthusiasm from the instructor and the participants, which combines Latin rhythms with interval-type exercise and resistance training. ZUMBA® and other dance workouts first appeared on the list of potential trends in 2010 and ranked no. 31 of 37 potential trends; in 2011, it was ranked no. 24 of a possible 31 choices. In 2012, it jumped to the top 10. Clearly, the popularity of ZUMBA® is growing with this rapid escalation in popularity. Future surveys will determine if this is a trend or a fad.
