It’s here! The annual announcement by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) of the top fitness trends for 2023. Published in the January/February issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, these fitness trends are part of an annual international survey of more than 4,500 health and fitness pros. Unsurprisingly, wearable technology was named the number one fitness trend to expect this year.
However, the survey also revealed a few emerging trends that likely will impact the health and fitness industry’s focus for 2023.
Here are the top ten fitness trends you can expect and possibly consider using this year:
- Wearable technology
Since 2016, wearable technology has been in the top three fitness trends, thanks to the plethora of devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, and devices that can track your calorie intake and time spent sitting and sleeping. Besides analyzing your exercise habits and health, these devices can also encourage you to set goals for improvement and performance that enhance your lifestyle.
- Strength training with free weights
Lifting weights is an important tool for muscular strength, endurance, and increasing metabolism. That’s why free weights, defined using barbells, kettle bells, dumbbells, and medicine balls, are in the number two spot as one of the top fitness trends.
- Body weight training
For the person with minimal workout equipment and/or space to exercise, using their body as a source of fitness training is a perfect example of combining an inexpensive activity with functionality.
- Fitness programs for older adults
The fastest-growing age segment is people aged 65 and older. People are living and working longer and must stay in shape as they age if they want to live independently. Gym and fitness center managers will need different ideas for attracting and accommodating this generation as potential customers. These accommodations may include scheduling programs that focus on movement and balance, offering more morning and afternoon classes, and even considering the type of music played to retain customers.
- Functional fitness training
This type of training can be called “movement for daily living” exercise as it highlights the importance of remaining physically functional throughout life. Functional fitness training involves movements to improve balance, coordination, functional strength, and endurance associated with the needs of older adults.
- Outdoor activities
An up-and-coming fitness trend attracting people of all ages is getting people out of the gym and into the great outdoors doing various activities. These activities include group walks, bicycle rides, and organized hiking, each led by a health and fitness professional. The events can be an hour or two, all day, or multiple-day excursions.
- High intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT training has been a long-time favorite for anyone interested in getting fit fast without wasting time. This exercise typically involves alternating short bursts of high intensity exercise (e.g., sprinting for 30 seconds) followed by short periods of recovery walking (e.g., medium to brisk walking for up to 1-2 minutes), and then repeating for up to 15 minutes total. HIIT is a great way to build endurance, lose weight, and gain muscle mass.
- Exercise for weight loss
While exercising is nothing new when attempting weight loss, this trend recognizes the importance of combining both nutritious dieting and cooking classes with an exercise routine.
- Employing certified fitness professionals
Fitness training works best when using a certified fitness professional at your side. Before working with one, know that fully accredited certification must include completing fitness-related educational programs. Someone with this certification will have a good foundation of knowledge in nutrition, exercise, dieting, and the human body. Fitness professionals have accredited fitness associations, including ACSM, NSCA, NASM, AFAA, ACE Fitness, and CanFitPro.
- Personal training
Working one-on-one with a certified fitness professional for personal exercise training can be an invaluable experience for getting in shape. Personal training means you work with a professional who will do an initial exercise evaluation, help you set realistic and achievable goals, educate you on nutrition and exercise techniques, and track your progress as you proceed. Individualized personal attention can be well worth the cost.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.
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