ACSM study identifies exercise for weight loss as UAE's top fitness trend

Exercising for weight loss, personal training and traditional strength training have been identified as the top fitness trends in the United Arab Emirates in the latest worldwide fitness trends survey from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Including the UAE in the annual ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends: Future Directions of the Health and Fitness Industry for the first time - UAE participants completing the survey considered a total of 47 possible trends (two additional trends were added, water immersion and massage).

With a survey comprising 56.5% males and 41.3% females (see Figure 1), across five different Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al-Quwain), the findings were as follows:

1. Exercise for Weight Loss (8.51)

2. Personal training (8.46)

3. Traditional Strength Training (8.34)

4. Employing Certified Exercise Professionals (8.32)

5. Boxing, Kickboxing, and Mixed Martial Arts (8.18)

6. Youth Athletic Development (8.12)

7. High-Intensity Interval Training (8.09)

8. Massage* (8.01)

9. Body Weight Training (8.00)

10. Wearable Technology (7.94)

11. Health/ Wellness Coaching (7.94)

12. Circuit Training (7.91)

13. Walking/ Running/ Jogging/ Cycling Clubs (7.88)

14. Small Group Training (7.86)

15. Functional Fitness Training (7.86)

16. Health Club and Spa (7.86)

17. Exercise for Children’s Health (7.85)

18. Lifestyle Medicine (7.82)

19. Outdoor Fitness Activities (7.77)

20. Exercise is Medicine (7.75)

A report in Abu Dhabi newspaper The National has focused on wearable technology, functional fitness, genetic testing and boutique studios along with weight training being the key trends for the year.

Referencing wearable technology, The National suggest more people will be looking to gain insight into their blood sugar levels through devices genetic testing will help people understand how their genes affect their response to exercise and diet.

Explaining this, Cyrus Rustom, owner of Boxica Gym in Dubai’s Studio City, told The National “glucose monitors are going to become more popular as people begin to understand that high sugar intake and unstable blood glucose levels are very bad for you.

“People want to manage their blood sugar so they live longer, healthier and leaner lives.”

Rustom added “genetic testing is becoming more available and accurate in discovering what forms of exercise and nutrition your body is best suited to.

“The results can inform the way you train, what you eat and even how you sleep, whether that means eating more carbs, avoiding fish, taking up endurance training or upping your vitamin D.

“We’re going to be seeing a lot more of this personalised approach to fitness in 2024.”

Explaining this, Cyrus Rustom, owner of Boxica Gym in Dubai’s Studio City, told The National “glucose monitors are going to become more popular as people begin to understand that high sugar intake and unstable blood glucose levels are very bad for you.

“People want to manage their blood sugar so they live longer, healthier and leaner lives.”

Rustom added “genetic testing is becoming more available and accurate in discovering what forms of exercise and nutrition your body is best suited to.

“The results can inform the way you train, what you eat and even how you sleep, whether that means eating more carbs, avoiding fish, taking up endurance training or upping your vitamin D.

“We’re going to be seeing a lot more of this personalised approach to fitness in 2024.”

The National also suggests a rise in luxury gym and boutique facilities such as the Emirates’ FitnGlam, Studio Pilates and Reset Fitness while also reporting Lauren Goggs, as stating “gone are the days where the fitness industry focuses on HIIT training, your one rep max and how long you can pound the treadmill for. It’s all about functional fitness.

“In 2024, we are likely to see even the big commercial gym players recognising the importance of holistic wellness and adding more mindfulness and meditation sessions to their schedules.”

“Boutiques and even mainstream gyms are focusing on exercise as a wholesome experience rather than just the physical 50-minute class.”

The 2024 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends: Future Directions of the Health and Fitness Industry is published in the January/February issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal.

Now in its 18th year, the annual survey, which gathers data from thousands of respondents to predict the trends which will impact the fitness industry, suggest the growing move for the fitness industry to engage with the medical profession.

This year the UAE, along with Chile and Italy, were included the survey’s specific reports, which are published for Australia, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal and Spain.

Click here for more information about ACSM's Worldwide Fitness Trends survey.