Lobby for a More Fit America
As ACE works towards our goal of eliminating the obesity epidemic in America, we
are encouraging fitness and allied health professionals, government leaders and
corporate America to find new ways to build bridges that change lives through fitness.
The American Council on Exercise supports a legislative agenda that encourages consumers
to make behavioral and lifestyle changes that will result in increased activity
levels and healthier eating habits by making the right choice the easy choice. We
believe that by serving as a champion for enhanced community and workplace partnerships
and greater public access to healthy lifestyle and fitness education offerings across
the country, we can foster collaboration between fitness and community leaders to
develop and enhance physical activity programs and rally with industry partners
and like-minded organizations to give rise to greater public access to fitness resources
at the local level all across the country.
ACE's vision for how we can help every American live their most fit life and our
public policy platform is based on the following beliefs:
Proactive involvement from local leaders: 2011 marked the launch of a major national
initiative led by the White House called Joining Forces, which supports accessible
fitness resources for military families. Along with the White House, ACE is leading
the effort to unite fitness professionals around the nation to offer at least one
million hours of fitness training services at no cost to family members of actively
deployed military reservists and National Guard members. The enhancement of the
federal government’s Presidential Active Lifestyle Award challenge (PALA+) to include
nutrition in addition to physical activity will also provide local leaders with
a roadmap for bringing fitness into their communities. According to a recent survey
of fitness and allied health professionals, 2012 will see greater involvement from
communities and governments as they address the obesity epidemic through school-based
education programs, financial incentives for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and
even government legislation targeting junk food. Under the leadership of the National
Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA), the implementation of the National
Physical Activity Plan will expand efforts to unite the strengths of public, private
and industry initiatives that collaborate and support Americans to lead healthier,
more active lifestyles.
Greater access and innovation in fitness: Through its involvement with The National
Physical Activity Plan and organizations such as the American Heart Association,
ACE will continue to convene with fellow thought-leaders to create collaborative
innovations that work toward ending the obesity epidemic. 2011 saw the continued
promotion of a major professional education and training innovation with the ACE®
Integrated Fitness Training™ (ACE IFT™) Model. This unique training approach incorporates
novel tools that fitness professionals can use to identify appropriate strategies
to enhance behavior change, goal setting, motivation, adherence, and the establishment
of stronger connections with their clients. Based on this model, ACE also expanded
its professional resource center to include a free suite of online tools with cutting-edge
features available at no cost to all fitness professionals. Educating those providing
fitness instruction and advice should be a top priority for the nation in 2012 to
ensure safe and effective methods are used to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes
for all consumers, especially inactive individuals. As the awareness of the importance
of healthy living grows, so will the proliferation of fitness fads and gimmicks.
The industry has a responsibility to support those efforts scientifically known
to be safe and effective for clients.
Federal funding that supports livable communities: Political figures and organizations
with like-minded goals must continue to work together to secure necessary funding
to support livable communities—those that offer transportation alternatives such
as walking trails and bike lanes. This ongoing development will lead not only to
stronger, healthier and more engaged residents, but will also offer a unique opportunity
for local groups and communities to join together for a mutually beneficial cause.
Fitness in the workplace: A 2011 survey conducted by ACE of more than 1,500 fitness
experts and allied-health providers confirmed an increase in organizations and companies
that provide wellness resources to their workforce through employee discounts and
reduced membership fees at fitness facilities and health clubs. ACE supports these
wellness-in-the-workplace initiatives and in 2012 will work toward additional programming
and research studies that encourage corporate America to connect with fitness professionals
and organizations to access credible and safe fitness resources for their employees.
More collaboration among fitness and healthcare organizations: The healthcare industry
must play a larger role in helping to educate the public about obesity-related diseases
and focusing on prevention as the pathway to a higher quality of life and longevity.
As consumers become better educated about health and fitness, the opportunities
continue to grow for certified fitness, allied-health and healthcare professionals
to come together to connect, share resources and inspire programming that encourages
more people to become active as a means of preventing or delaying the onset of disease.
Newly revised certifications related to obesity and weight management will be introduced
such as the ACE Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach certification prompting fitness
and allied health professionals to secure these credentials as a means of expanding
their knowledge, skills, and abilities, thereby helping to grow their businesses
and achieve their respective missions. ACE recently expanded its collaboration with
the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) to offer professional development
for staff members who provide fitness and wellness programs in senior living and
community-based senior centers throughout the country. In addition, ACE is a key
member of the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, a new coalition spearheaded by the
Arthritis Foundation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and focused
on uniting stakeholders in aging, arthritis, chronic disease prevention, physical
activity, and public health. As the boomer population continues to grow and require
greater access to fitness resources in the years to come, ACE and the industry as
a whole will continue to be called on to provide support in this area.
Healthier choices and education: In 2011, more than 58 percent of fitness professionals
reported seeing access to fitness services and education increasing in their communities,
a positive trend that will continue in the year to come. ACE remains committed to
providing content and information that enhances the public’s fitness literacy and
arms consumers with the tools they need to make more informed decisions and change
longstanding unhealthy habits. In 2011, ACE expanded its Get FIT™ online resource
center, which provides free access to studies and research on the most effective
exercise programs and equipment, a fully illustrated workout library featuring motion-capture
technology, healthy recipes and expert answers to visitor-submitted questions related
to fitness and health. With new technologies and the rise of social media, more
and more organizations are leveraging these communication vehicles to provide education
and support to those looking to improve their health. This will give rise to the
potential for confusion and “noise” in the marketplace necessitating the need for
trusted, research-based information and collaborative support within the industry.
Greater inclusiveness: Organizations offering free or reduced fitness programs to
at-risk health populations are also on the rise. Through its partnerships with Academia
Fit and AARP, ACE offers specialty programs for the Latino community and the 50-plus
age group. In 2012 and beyond, ACE will expand national partnerships that extend
the reach of free resources and information to the local level. The American Council
on Exercise encourages industry leaders to find opportunities to support minority
populations in America to ensure inclusiveness and access to fitness information
for all.
Academic involvement: ACE continues to see the opportunity for academic institutions
to offer improved and more robust health and fitness courses and education in addition
to standard gym classes and organized recreational sports teams. Scientific research
has consistently shown that regular exercise increases productivity and academic
output in significant ways. The evidence is clear that providing younger generations
with a well-rounded curriculum focused on fitness can positively impact their lives
now and in the future. ACE continues to provide free curricula in this area that
is available to anyone interested in helping elementary and middle-school students
learn about living healthy and becoming physically literate. ACE also provides curriculum
and support materials to more than 350 universities and colleges around the country
working to educate tomorrow’s fitness professionals today.
Engagement with low-income communities: The private and public sectors must continue
to find new ways to support at-risk and low-income communities in order to provide
them with the resources, education and programming they need to stay active and
healthy. Research continues to demonstrate that these communities often see greater
rates of obesity and chronic diseases, making awareness and funding vital to the
improvement of these areas as it relates to overall health. As the light continues
to shine on the rising cost of healthcare, prevention (especially in low-income
communities) must become a top priority for government and healthcare organizations.
ACE will continue work to build partnerships around the country with organizations
focused on improving the health and well-being of those most at risk.
Leverage private funds and contributions: With the launch of the National Foundation
on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition Establishment Act (S.1275), a nonprofit, charitable
foundation created to raise funds in support of the President’s Council’s expansion
of exercise and wellness resources, we are one step closer to eliminating the childhood
obesity epidemic. Through fitness-industry support and collaboration with such groups,
there will be greater focus on putting funding and contributions to work for communities
across the country in order to create a healthier future for America.
Want to Help Pass Legislation on Federal and Local Levels?
Are you interested in affecting national and state initiatives that promote more
active lifestyles for all Americans? We encourage you to join with our efforts to
work to pass laws that will help affect societal changes toward a more fit America.
We have now instituted powerful tools that allow you to take action, monitor legislative
issues, easily voice your opinions and speak to your elected officials on issues
that are important to you via our website.
The initiative is focused on establishing and enhancing an influential, powerful
and unified political voice for the fitness industry while strengthening our commitment
to public outreach and increasing the number of ACE-certified fitness professionals
who actively participate in grassroots advocacy.
Help us fight the obesity epidemic and work toward empowering all individuals to
live their most fit life, take action now! For current issues, please click on the link below.