27 Oct 2015
ACSM names wearable tech the top fitness trend for 2016
BY Jak Phillips
After years of hype and expectation, wearable technology will finally take its place in the mainstream of fitness in 2016.
That’s according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) which has named wearable technology as the number one fitness trend for 2016 in its annual foresight report.
Now in its tenth year, The Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends has recently tipped body weight training and HIIT among its top trends. For the latest report, the ACSM turned to wearable technology, which is expected to triple in value over the next 10 years, according to a research forecast by IDTechEx.
“Wearable technology has overtaken activities like body weight training and high-intensity interval training to claim the number one spot in this year’s survey,” said lead author of the survey Walter R. Thompson, Ph.D.
“Consumer interest in fitness technology may signal that the low-cost, DIY exercise trend is waning.”
The survey was completed by more than 2,800 health and fitness professionals worldwide and was designed to reveal trends in various fitness environments. A total of 40 potential trends were given as choices, and the top 20 were ranked and published by ACSM, with past top trends body weight training and HIIT rounding out the top three – a reflection that neither movement is a mere flash in the pan.
“Tech devices are now central to our daily lives and have changed the way we plan and manage our workouts,” added Thompson.
“Wearable devices also provide immediate feedback that can make the wearer more aware of their level of activity and can motivate the user to achieve their fitness goals.”
To view the full report, published in ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal click here.
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