30 Oct 2012
Fitness trends survey - body weight training the 'next big thing'
BY Tom Walker
A survey on fitness trends has confirmed the re-emergence of body weight training by naming it among the top hot exercises for the future.
Body weight training - which includes push-ups, planks, pull-ups and squats - appears in the top 10 of the annual American College of Sports Medicine Fitness Survey for the first time.
In addition to adding body weight training as a new trend for 2013, this year's survey supports some of the previous trends and re-established two trends from previous surveys.
Pilates, balance training, and the stability ball are trends that previously been listed in the top 20 but have not re-appeared on the list after they dropped off the list a couple of years ago.
The survey, now in its seventh year, was completed by 3,346 certified health and fitness professionals worldwide and was designed to reveal trends in various fitness environments.
Thirty-seven potential trends were given as choices, and the top 20 were ranked and discussed in the survey report.
Dr Walt Thompson, author of the study, said: "Body weight exercises are a proven way to get and stay fit.
"In a time when many people are concerned with cutting expenses, body weight exercises are a great way to feel great and look toned without a big financial investment."
Other trends identified by the survey included the increasing need to create exercise classes and programmes for an older population and the emergence of group personal training.
To see the full list of all top fitness trends for 2013, click here.
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