Getting people moving:
Our work and impact in 2022
An overwhelming body of evidence indicates that even a moderate amount of physical activity performed every week enhances health, prevents costly inactivity-related diseases and contributes to a more joyful life. For more than 35 years, ACE has been committed to translating that evidence into tangible action to get people moving.
Certification
A foundational component of our approach to getting people moving is the certification of well-qualified exercise professionals and health coaches. With every professional we certify, the impact of evidence-based exercise programming and health coaching provided by ACE Certified Professionals becomes more widespread.
The respect and recognition of ACE certification programs is truly global. Since 2003, our four primary certification programs have been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and in 2022, we received the accreditation for ACE's four primary certifications (personal trainer, group fitness instructor, health coach, and certified medical exercise specialist) under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17024 Accreditation Standard. The ACE Personal Trainer and ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Programs are also recognized by the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPs).
ACE is an enthusiastic supporter and leader of more than 90,000 currently certified exercise professionals and health coaches who hold over 100,000 ACE Certifications and inspire communities around the world in getting and staying physically active.
Number of ACE Certified Professionals
Personal Trainers
49.4 MILLIONEstimated number of client sessions conducted by ACE Certified Personal Trainers in 2022*
Group Fitness Instructors
5.6 MILLIONEstimated number of classes taught by ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructors in 2022*
Health Coaches
2.4 MILLIONEstimated number of coaching sessions conducted by ACE Certified Health Coaches in 2022*
Certified Medical Exercise Specialists
371,000Estimated number of client sessions conducted by ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialists in 2022*
*Figures based on the number of personal trainers, group fitness instructors, health coaches, and certified medical exercise specialists and the average number of client sessions and classes per week. Averages are based on independent survey data collected from ACE Certified Professionals.
The more than 90,000 ACE Certified Professionals play a critical role in helping ACE achieve our mission of getting people moving. In 2022, we escalated our support of professionals by launching ACE Pro Compass and additional tools, which provide tailored experiences of ongoing support and guidance to create a lifelong that fuels their passions for helping others be more active. Together, ACE Certified Professionals, partners and staff can lead the way to a more active and healthier world."
Scott Goudeseune
Chief Executive Officer, American Council on Exercise
Education
ACE offers a wide array of evidence-based education and career resources to equip ACE Certified Professionals and others with the knowledge and skills to reach more clients and grow their careers. In 2022, ACE launched a suite of ACE lifecycle career support tools.
ACE Lifecycle Career Support Tools
Through a new suite of career support tools and resources, ACE aims to help exercise professionals and health coaches embark on lifelong learning and charter personalized career paths. As an education and certification organization, our commitment to the success of exercise professionals and health coaches extends beyond certification, and the three comprehensive new career support platforms provide unprecedented ongoing support, guidance, tools and resources to help them thrive.
ACE Pro Compass
ACE Pro Compass provides ACE Professionals with curated content and resources to explore and navigate a personalized career path. ACE Pro Compass includes business guidance and the know-how to get started in the industry, as well as exclusive resources to support their success in an ever-changing industry.
ACE Pro Connect App
The ACE Pro Connect App is a free app (available on IOS and Android devices) that serves to help ACE Certified Professionals connect, learn and grow with each other.
ACE Job Board
The ACE Job Board is a one-stop-shop for both future employees and employers to post job openings, search for new jobs, upload resumes and review applications for employment within the health and fitness industry.
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ACE Lifecycle Career Support Tools
ACE Lifecycle Career Support Tools
Through a new suite of career support tools and resources, ACE aims to help exercise professionals and health coaches embark on lifelong learning and charter personalized career paths. As an education and certification organization, our commitment to the success of exercise professionals and health coaches extends beyond certification, and the three comprehensive new career support platforms provide unprecedented ongoing support, guidance, tools and resources to help them thrive.
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ACE Pro Compass
ACE Pro Compass
ACE Pro Compass provides ACE Professionals with curated content and resources to explore and navigate a personalized career path. ACE Pro Compass includes business guidance and the know-how to get started in the industry, as well as exclusive resources to support their success in an ever-changing industry.
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ACE Pro Connect App
ACE Pro Connect App
The ACE Pro Connect App is a free app (available on IOS and Android devices) that serves to help ACE Certified Professionals connect, learn and grow with each other.
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ACE Job Board
ACE Job Board
The ACE Job Board is a one-stop-shop for both future employees and employers to post job openings, search for new jobs, upload resumes and review applications for employment within the health and fitness industry.
In addition to the suite of the ACE Lifecyle Career Support Tools, ACE developed and updated nearly 40 education programs and courses including:
Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist Program
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, over 70% of people in the USA are living in larger bodies. With each passing year, this number grows, and health outcomes become more concerning. Regular exercise can greatly improve an individual's health and quality of life, yet millions of people remain sedentary and too intimidated to begin a fitness routine. When it comes to fitness, the larger bodied demographic has different needs both psychologically and physically. The Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist Program, created by Louise Green, author, educator, and award-wining personal trainer whose expertise has been featured by over 150 media outlets, offers in-depth, highly specialized training to remove barriers and help get your larger bodied clients moving in a sustainable way.
Group Fitness Instructor Study Program Update
In 2022, the Group Fitness Instructor Study program was updated to enhance learning and support future certified ACE Group Fitness Instructors, empowering them to 'get people moving' through safe, effective, and memorable group fitness experiences. This updated program, which now includes 29 instructional videos, 4 podcasts and 70 interactive learning activities, incorporates quality, evidence-based information into a multi-dimensional learning experience that caters to the specific needs of adult learners. Throughout the program, these videos, podcasts and interactive learning activities are used to help learners understand how to apply the knowledge and principles they are learning to real-world scenarios with clients. And now, all of this can be accessed from the ACE study dashboard, a one stop shop for all the materials needed to study, register and pass the GFI exam.
ACE Live Webinars
Presented on a monthly to bi-monthly basis, the ACE Live Webinars connect ACE Certified Professionals with experts in the fitness industry who present on a wide range of topics. These free, live events allow ACE Professionals and others within and outside of the industry to join in for education in the areas of health coaching, personal training, fitness business, nutrition, group fitness, special population and more. Each webinar is recorded live and sold as a single course and is included in the CEC Power Pass membership.
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Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist Program
Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist Program
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, over 70% of people in the USA are living in larger bodies. With each passing year, this number grows, and health outcomes become more concerning. Regular exercise can greatly improve an individual's health and quality of life, yet millions of people remain sedentary and too intimidated to begin a fitness routine. When it comes to fitness, the larger bodied demographic has different needs both psychologically and physically. The Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist Program, created by Louise Green, author, educator, and award-wining personal trainer whose expertise has been featured by over 150 media outlets, offers in-depth, highly specialized training to remove barriers and help get your larger bodied clients moving in a sustainable way.
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Group Fitness Instructor Study Program Update
Group Fitness Instructor Study Program Update
In 2022, the Group Fitness Instructor Study program was updated to enhance learning and support future certified ACE Group Fitness Instructors, empowering them to 'get people moving' through safe, effective, and memorable group fitness experiences. This updated program, which now includes 29 instructional videos, 4 podcasts and 70 interactive learning activities, incorporates quality, evidence-based information into a multi-dimensional learning experience that caters to the specific needs of adult learners. Throughout the program, these videos, podcasts and interactive learning activities are used to help learners understand how to apply the knowledge and principles they are learning to real-world scenarios with clients. And now, all of this can be accessed from the ACE study dashboard, a one stop shop for all the materials needed to study, register and pass the GFI exam.
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ACE Live Webinars
ACE Live Webinars
Presented on a monthly to bi-monthly basis, the ACE Live Webinars connect ACE Certified Professionals with experts in the fitness industry who present on a wide range of topics. These free, live events allow ACE Professionals and others within and outside of the industry to join in for education in the areas of health coaching, personal training, fitness business, nutrition, group fitness, special population and more. Each webinar is recorded live and sold as a single course and is included in the CEC Power Pass membership.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
In July of 2020, ACE made a commitment to do our part to help end structural racism and address diversity and inclusion in the fitness and physical activity industry. This commitment looks different for every organization, and at ACE we have been striving to keep equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) top of mind. This year, ACE developed educational resources, hosted public dialogues, secured media placements to elevate the EDI discussion. We also partnered with like-minded organizations to create a more diverse, inclusive and equitable industry which is of paramount importance to the future.
In addition to elevating EDI topics and dialogues publicly, ACE provided employees, the ACE executive team and ACE board of directors with educational resources, workshops and other opportunities to practice and celebrate EDI within ACE.
This year, ACE launched an internal EDI Council consisting of 10-12 employees. The Council is an employee-led group that provides recommendations to ACE's leaders and contributes to the planning and evaluation of organizational activities related to EDI. The formation of this Council provides a structure to reinforce EDI values and create an equitable space where diverse voices across the organization are heard and included. With a more diverse group developing and reviewing EDI efforts, ACE will have a stronger and more effective EDI initiative and impact.
Population Health Improvement
In 2022, ACE continued to cultivate partnerships across sectors to help support and inspire individuals worldwide to reach recommended physical-activity levels to help prevent and manage chronic disease.
Key Partnerships
ACE leaders served on numerous advisory panels and forged collaborative relationships with leaders in the realm of population-health improvement, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and others:
Health Advisory Board
MESA COLLEGE HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING ADVISORY BOARD
National Fitness Foundation
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra appointed new members to the Board of Directors of the National Fitness Foundation (Foundation), including ACE chief executive officer Scott Goudeseune.
The Foundation was established by Congress in 2010 to collaborate with the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (President's Council) and to identify strategic priorities to further the purposes and functions of President's Council. The Foundation supports and strengthens the President's Council's mission by facilitating investments and partnerships that engage, educate and empower all Americans to lead healthy, active lives.
Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
ACE expanded its health coaching education and training via the acquisition of the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute (DSWI). DSWI will join ACE as part of a new division, ACE Health and Wellness. This new division is unprecedented for ACE and cements its role as a leader in the health coaching industry.
"We are proud to be joining forces with DSWI to grow the field of health coaching," said Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. FACSM, ACE president and chief science officer. "DSWI has an outstanding reputation and is well respected in healthcare, where there is tremendous growth opportunity for lifestyle behavior change education and training."
Community Health & Wellness Services
ACE introduced the Community Health & Wellness Services (CHWS) department to further advance the ACE mission. This new department focuses on collaborating with community partners to address the healthy lifestyle and physical activity needs in communities recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic; and identifying funding sources to support ACE's efforts around improving community health and wellness. Through working with community partners, it is our belief CHWS will extend the reach of physical activity opportunities to communities who have been traditionally left out of the conversation.
Increased physical activity and exercise continue to be key factors of a healthy lifestyle, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Pre-pandemic, we knew physical activity could help reduce the risk of many chronic conditions as well as provide additional health and wellness benefits. Recent studies reveal that physical activity can also help reduce the risk of adverse COVID-19 symptoms. As our world continues to evolve and adapt, the importance of physical activity and exercise remains instrumental in improving overall health and decreasing risks from disease."
Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, FACSM
President & Chief Science Officer, American Council on Exercise
Science and Research
ACE invested more than $100,000 into original studies conducted by universities and research institutions. ACE funds research that investigates the effectiveness of exercise practices and trends, and the efficacy of behavior-change interventions.
In 2022, three ACE-sponsored studies were completed, all of which focused on community-based physical activity and behavior change. On-going ACE-sponsored research includes the Sunrise Trial, which will review developmental and health measures compared across sex, socioeconomic status and urban/rural location. Stay up to date on ACE's research here, and sign up for ACE's free online monthly publication CERTIFIED™, designed to equip exercise and health professionals with the evidence-based knowledge needed to inform their work with clients.
Most popular ACE Certified publication articles in 2022:
#ACEScienceSaturday
In 2022, ACE continued its #ACEScienceSaturday, a series of reoccurring social media posts that provide ACE Instagram and ACE Facebook audiences with information and tips drawn from recently published research articles and evidence-based ACE initiatives.
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the fitness industry in the United States and globally. According to recent research, the fitness industry's revenue declined by 32.45% in 2020, and only slightly rebounded by 0.55% at the end of 2021.
Most remaining fitness businesses and professionals have returned to work, but some consumers have shifted how they view and practice physical activity and exercise. Based on the MindBody Fitness Report: 2022 Wellness Index, the pandemic continues to have an impact on physical and mental health. The top reasons for why people workout have shifted. Pre-pandemic, the top reasons why people exercised were to control their weight, feel good and live a long and healthy life. In 2022, the top reasons why people exercise include to reduce stress, feel better mentally and to look better physically. In addition, consumers are more hesitant about exercising in gyms. Gym intimidation grew from 12% in 2021 to 19% in 2022 (MindBody, 2022). Many consumers are exploring different avenues of exercise including online and digital fitness, which has a projected growth of 33% between 2021-2028.
As we learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on health, ACE has been supporting exercise professionals and health coaches by translating the latest scientific research into easy-to-understand blog posts. It is our hope that these resources allow exercise professionals and health coaches to understand the impact of this disease and equip them to help individuals make lasting lifestyle behavior changes. In 2022, ACE shared the following articles and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Understanding Long COVID: What to Do When Exercise May Do More Harm Than Good
- Study: Does High-intensity Exercise Increase the Risk of Contracting COVID?
- Ask ACE: Help Your Clients Return to Exercise After the COVID-19 Pandemic
- How to Effectively Address Fears About the Future
- Pivot: Turn a Time of Crisis Into an Opportunity for Growth and Success
- Lessons Learned From COVID: Four Steps to Managing Fluctuations in Income
International Partnerships
In 2022, there were nearly 18,000 ACE Certified Professionals in 115 countries outside of the U.S.
Through strategic partnerships with vocational schools, institutions of higher learning and major health-club chains spanning from Hungary to China, ACE expanded its global footprint of ACE Certified Professionals.
Professionals
of the U.S.
Canada
ACE partnered with two organizations in Canada, including the Elevated Learning Academy, Inc., who has been a partner for 12 years, and INFOFIT Educators, who has been a partner for 10 years.
China
ACE partnered with 3HFIT and Xinchun Fitness in mainland China. ACE explored how to support China's 2025 health policy, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of its citizens. In 2022, ACE introduced the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam in Chinese.
United Kingdom
ACE partnered with Advanced Fitness Education in Wales.
Finland
ACE partnered with the Nordic Health Academy in Helsinki.
Hungary
ACE reinvigorated its partnership with International Wellness Institute, who is currently exploring translating ACE materials into local languages for greater distribution.
India
ACE partnered with Classic Fitness, a partner for over 11 years, and R8 Academy, a partner for over 6 years. Additional partners included Fitness Matters and Prehab 121. In 2022, ACE worked on introducing a local printing option in India to quicken the shipping process.
Lebanon
ACE partnered with Inspire Fitness Academy in Beirut, a partner for 5 years.
Malaysia
ACE partnered with Fitness Innovations Malaysia (FITM) in Selangor.
San Diego, California
ACE headquarters.
Singapore
ACE partner the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) expressed more interest in ACE educational resources in different languages. ITE is working with Sports Singapore, which leads health and fitness initiatives for Singapore, to train over 300 employees with the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Study Program. ACE also had continued support from PSB, Academy of Sports and Exercise, International Sports Academy and FIT Asia.
Taiwan China
In Taiwan, ACE partnered with Fit Taiwan and 3HFIT, a partner for more than 6 years.
Zimbabwe
ACE partnered with Innovate Sport & Health, a partner for more than 11 years.
International Partners Include:
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Canada
Canada
ACE partnered with two organizations in Canada, including the Elevated Learning Academy, Inc., who has been a partner for 12 years, and INFOFIT Educators, who has been a partner for 10 years.
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China
China
ACE partnered with 3HFIT and Xinchun Fitness in mainland China. ACE explored how to support China's 2025 health policy, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of its citizens. In 2022, ACE introduced the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam in Chinese.
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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
ACE partnered with Advanced Fitness Education in Wales.
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Finland
Finland
ACE partnered with the Nordic Health Academy in Helsinki.
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Hungary
Hungary
ACE reinvigorated its partnership with International Wellness Institute, who is currently exploring translating ACE materials into local languages for greater distribution.
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India
India
ACE partnered with Classic Fitness, a partner for over 11 years, and R8 Academy, a partner for over 6 years. Additional partners included Fitness Matters and Prehab 121. In 2022, ACE worked on introducing a local printing option in India to quicken the shipping process.
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Lebanon
Lebanon
ACE partnered with Inspire Fitness Academy in Beirut, a partner for 5 years.
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Malaysia
Malaysia
ACE partnered with Fitness Innovations Malaysia (FITM) in Selangor.
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San Diego, California
San Diego, California
ACE headquarters.
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Singapore
Singapore
ACE partner the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) expressed more interest in ACE educational resources in different languages. ITE is working with Sports Singapore, which leads health and fitness initiatives for Singapore, to train over 300 employees with the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Study Program. ACE also had continued support from PSB, Academy of Sports and Exercise, International Sports Academy and FIT Asia.
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Taiwan China
Taiwan China
In Taiwan, ACE partnered with Fit Taiwan and 3HFIT, a partner for more than 6 years.
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Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
ACE partnered with Innovate Sport & Health, a partner for more than 11 years.
Collaboration and Advocacy
Like-minded collaborators
Active People, Healthy Nation℠
ACE is a proud supporter of Active People, Healthy Nation℠, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Initiative that seeks to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027 by promoting effective strategies that work. In our role as a partner, ACE participated in regular APHN meetings, which brought together other nationally recognized organizations. Learn more about our support here. In addition, ACE assisted with collaborative communication campaigns to encourage increased physical activity, including the #MovingMatters campaign.
ACE was an active partner of the #MovingMatters campaign, in part by posting multiple social media posts.
Papren
ACE is proud to participate in the Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PAPREN), a thematic research network of the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) program of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) funds PAPREN to support collaborative research and evaluation to identify and implement local, state and national level policy approaches that influence opportunities for physical activity. PAPREN supports work across multiple sectors with emphasis on factors that affect the built environment such as land use and transportation policy. PAPREN emphasizes cross-sector collaboration and integration of health equity into all policy evaluation efforts.
In 2022, ACE partnered with the PAPREN to help develop resources and tools to encourage increased physical activity in the workplace. These resources and tools included an infographic, definitions and citations, and a table to measure physical activity. The full set of materials were distributed in July 2022 with the support of the Physical Activity Alliance.
In partnership with PAPREN and other collaborators including the American Heart Association, ACE developed multiple communication pieces to encourage increased physical activity at work settings.
Advancing standards for the profession
ACE is among the most vocal advocates for consistent standards of professionalism within the fitness industry. In 2022, ACE served on boards and committees that improve the quality of education, credentialing and workplaces for the exercise professional, including:
Committee on Accreditation for Education Programs for Kinesiotherapy (CoA-KT)
Nominating Committee
Facility Certification Committee
Workcred
Standards Revision Main Committee
Standards Subcommittee
As a leader of the Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals (CREP), ACE also advocated for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) inclusion of the CREP and NATA-ICSM joint recommendations for strength coaches into their Preventing Catastrophic Injury and Death in Collegiate Athletes that establishes US Reps' strength and conditioning coaches as the standard for practitioners. ACE is also supporting CREP's transition of association management companies, which includes a future expansion of US Reps' utility to support the Physical Activity Alliance's (PAA) National Exercise Referral Framework (NERF).
U.S. Policy and Engagement
In 2022, ACE advocated with allies to encourage and support policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives.
ACE is an active partner and supporter of the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA), an organization that strives to make the active choice the easy choice. PAA works alongside other leading health advocacy organizations in the United States to lead efforts to create, support and advocate policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives.
In 2022, ACE worked directly with the PAA to amplify their collaborative advocacy approach to encourage increased physical activity and improved health for Americans. This included:
- Serving on the PAA Board of Directors. Graham Melstrand, ACE executive vice president of community health and wellness, provided leadership and guidance as the Board President.
- Advocating for the U.S. President's Council on Sports Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN) through a letter which PAA sent on behalf of all partner organizations.
- Co-presenting in the May 2022 California Fitness Alliance Board Meeting presentation of “Industry Advocacy & State of Credentialing.”
- Attending IHRSA's Global Fitness Alliance meeting and the Get Active for All Task Force meeting in June 2022.
- Sharing PAA's letter to the White House regarding increased focus on physical activity in the new Conference on Hunger, Health and Nutrition.
- Promoting PAA's Move to Live More Initiative at the April 2022 American Institute of Cancer Research's virtual conference.
- Signing PAA's CEO pledge to make physical activity and healthy movement a cultural norm in the workplace.
- Facilitating a panel congressional briefing about the official launch of the Military Settings Sector of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan.
- Supporting PAA's efforts for Health Level 7 Standards, which refers to a set of international standards for the transfer of clinical and administrative data, for incorporating physical activity as a vital sign into electronic medical records (EMRs).
- Contributing to PAA's national exercise referral framework (NERF), that guides referrals based on level of physician oversight and engagement required for patients or participants.
Graham Melstrand, ACE executive vice president of community health and wellness, facilitated a panel congressional briefing about the official launch of the Military Settings Sector of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced gyms to close in 2020, many in the fitness industry quickly pivoted to delivering their physical activity programs outdoors. This was the catalyst to launching the Moving Together Outside Campaign in 2021, which calls or local and state governments to expand access and reduce restrictions to using green spaces, parks, schools and other community spaces for safe, structured, physical activity experiences led by well-qualified exercise and health professionals.
Between its launch and the end of 2022, the Moving Together Outside (MTO) Campaign reached the following milestones:
- 135 total campaign supporters, including municipalities, businesses, community organizations, and exercise and health professionals.
- 21 MTO opinion pieces and articles placements in media publications, which reached approximately 31.5 million readers.
- 16 published blogs
- 1 webinar hosted
- 1 Shared-use Toolkit developed
- 1 virtual resource created, which provides health and fitness professionals with continuing education credits
- 300+ uses of the #MovingTogetherOutside hashtag on multiple social media channels
Spreading the Word
ACE spreads the message for increased physical activity by providing evidence-based, publicly available content and engaging the news media. In 2022, ACE generated more than 160 unique stories and was cited in more than 4,500 articles.
Media Placements in 2022 Included:
Encouraging Physical Activity Through Quality Content
ACE continued to provide the public with educational, science-based content to encourage people from all walks of life to achieve sustainable healthy lifestyle changes.
5,089,000+
Unique ACE website visitors
1,064,000+
Unique ACE Healthy Living Blog visitors
909,000+
Unique ACE Insights Blog visitors
