Exercise later in life isn’t just important.
It’s downright trendy.
Fitness programs for people over 50 rank as the No. 4 hot topic coming next year, according to the 13th annual Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends from international consulting giant Wolters Kluwer Health.
“This is a trend that emphasizes and caters to the fitness needs of the Baby Boom and older generations,” says the report. It was based on information from more than 2,000 people in the health and fitness industry.
“These individuals in general have more discretionary money than their younger counterparts, and fitness clubs may capitalize on this growing market,” the report continues. “People are living longer, working longer, and remaining healthy and active much longer.”
A related topic ranked No. 9, functional fitness training. This uses strength training and other exercises to improve balance, coordination and more to strengthen our ability to perform daily activities.
Some respondents in the survey said they often use functional fitness programs with clients over 50, depending on the individual’s needs.
The findings were published in the November issue of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal.
So, what were the other top fitness trends predicted for 2019?
· No. 5: Bodyweight training
· No. 3: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
· No. 2: Group training
· No. 1: Wearable technology such as fitness trackers, smart watches, heart rate monitors and GPS location tracking devices.