What’s Trending in Fitness and Exercise?
As knowledge on the importance of exercise and physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle continues to expand, certain issues and trends in the fitness industry are at the forefront. Whether it is choosing the latest technology that will give you the motivation to stick to a fitness program, identifying the type of physical activity best suited for your age and overall abilities, finding a qualified fitness professional who is trained in the science of exercising, or determining whether your exercise program should be supplemented by one of the new Food and Drug Administration approved medications to help you with your weight loss goals—there is a wealth of information on important aspects of fitness that an individual should consider in making decisions on an exercise or strength and conditioning program. Oladipo Eddo, assistant professor in the Kinesiology program in the School of Kinesiology at George Mason University, recently provided his perspective on several of the most currently talked about topics in fitness and exercise science.
Wearable Technology
There are times during their fitness journey when an individual may feel they are not making the progress they had originally hoped for and become discouraged. Wearable technology is a valuable tool that can help keep individuals remain committed to their fitness goals. In its 2024 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) ranked wearable technology first among the top twenty trends for the year. Wearable technology, which includes smartwatches and other fitness tracking devices, allows individuals to set small, achievable goals such as the number of steps taken during an exercise session. Meeting or exceeding these goals can provide an individual with the motivation and inspiration they need to continue with their exercise program.
Wearable technology can also be synchronized with a smartphone, which enables individuals to engage with and support other people around the world who may share similar challenges on their road to fitness. These devices can also provide baseline measures of an individual’s heart rate, blood pressure, sleep patterns, and other important health metrics. However, fitness experts caution that some wearable technology devices may not provide the type of validated data that you would find in controlled laboratory conditions, and they advise consumers to consult with an exercise professional before purchasing a product. Despite this downside, the widespread use of wearable technology offers exercise scientists the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the physical activity habits of people during their everyday lives.
Exercise for Older Adults
With new advances in medicine that help people live longer than ever before, the number of older adults in the U.S. population has increased dramatically. A report titled 2023 Profile of Older Americans, released by the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cited U.S. Census Bureau data showing that between 2012 and 2022, the number of adults over the age of 65 in the U.S. grew from 43.1 million to 57.8 million, representing a 34% increase. This growth is likely to continue with the number of seniors living in the U.S. projected to reach 88.8 million by the year 2060. As people live longer, they are at greater risk of developing age-related illnesses and conditions that could negatively impact their health and quality of life. Among these are osteopenia or osteoarthritis (degradation of bone density and mineralization), sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass and strength), cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The good news is that in some cases these conditions can be mitigated, if not reversed, in older adults through implementation of a well thought out program of muscle strength resistance training and aerobic exercise complemented by a healthy and nutritious diet. There is also research showing that cardiorespiratory exercise can help stave off the onset of dementia and other forms of mental impairment by increasing circulation and oxygen to parts of the brain that regulate cognition.
Obesity
The adverse health effects of obesity are widely known and can include chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, joint problems, and sleep apnea, among others. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than two in five adults have obesity. Some people with obesity are resorting to medical interventions—one of which consists of the new weight loss drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. While a medical intervention of this nature may be beneficial in combating obesity, fitness experts say it should be part of a broader integrated approach that includes a carefully structured exercise program consisting of aerobic activity and resistance training. Resistance training is especially important as it increases muscle and bone mass which raises baseline metabolism rates, therefore resulting in more calories being burned. In addition to physical activity, an effective weight loss program should include a well-balanced and nutritious diet that considers both the quantity and quality of calories consumed. The timing of meals is also important because decreases in blood glucose levels that occur throughout the day have an impact on metabolism rates.
Youth Athletic Development
The number of children, ages 6 to 17, participating in sports is rising. That is welcome news given the increase of childhood obesity in the U.S. with one in five children and adolescents experiencing obesity according to the CDC. Playing a sport can help children in their physical, social, and emotional development. But a recent trend has been observed where more youth are now specializing in one sport at an early age. Setting their sights on a college scholarship for their children, parents are making significant investments in year-round training concentrating on one sport in the hopes that their children will develop superior skills that will catch the eye of a college recruiter upon graduation from high school. Athletic specialization at an early age, however, places undue stress on certain muscle groupings that are specific to playing a particular sport. Other muscle groupings will not be utilized to the same degree and could suffer from lack of use and delayed development, potentially resulting in injury later in life. Fitness professionals recommend that children play multiple sports so that all muscle groupings develop strength and endurance, minimizing future risk of injury.
How do you select a qualified exercise or fitness professional?
Existing data shows that individuals who are physically fit are less likely to develop an illness or sustain an injury and make fewer visits to the emergency room. Research has proven that regular exercise improves fitness by optimizing body composition, respiratory function, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. Because fitness is often thought of as the first line of defense in having strong immunity, maintaining health, and avoiding injury, it is important to choose a well-qualified exercise professional who can help you achieve your fitness goals.
There are currently no licensing requirements for exercise and fitness professionals. This means that anyone can claim that they are an exercise or fitness specialist. That is why it is important to select a qualified exercise professional who is well trained and who understands the science and physiology of exercise from a clinical perspective. A consumer should look for a professional who holds a certification from the ACSM or the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) — two organizations that are leaders in the field of health and fitness. In addition, it is important to choose an exercise specialist who completed their education in a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Graduation from a CAAHEP accredited program allows individuals to sit for the ACSM or NSCA certification exams. Given the many different certifications that exist in the fitness industry, it can be a challenge to identify which ones are truly reflective of an individual’s qualifications as an exercise specialist. Certification through ACSM or NSCA can provide the consumer with the assurance that the exercise or strength conditioning specialist is professionally qualified and can help them get to where they want to be in their journey to fitness.
To learn more about the Kinesiology program in the School of Kinesiology at George Mason University, please visit the program website.