Educated and experienced fitness professionals have been identified as the top fitness sector trend for 2012, according to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) research.

More than 2,600 industry professionals were surveyed on potential trends for 2012, with the results published in the November/December issue of ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal.

Strength training and programmes for older adults also featured as part of the top five trends, along with exercise as part of weight loss schemes and efforts to tackle childhood obesity.

Zumba and other dance-based workouts were included in the list of top 20 trends for the first time (ninth), as did outdoor activities (14th). Pilates, however, dropped off the list.

Walter R. Thompson, lead author of the survey and fellow of ACSM, said: "Zumba and other dance workouts first appeared on the list of potential trends in 2010, but this is the first year Zumba has made the top 20.

"While Zumba has experienced a rapid surge in popularity in the past year, future surveys will indicate if Zumba is truly a trend or simply a fad."

Debra Stuart, chief executive officer of UK-based Premier Global, added: "These trends are pleasing to see and mirrors what we are doing as a company in terms of the training we are delivering and the qualifications our graduates are gaining."

Details: www.acsm.org

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