American Council on Exercise (ACE) Announces Nationwide Effort to Eliminate Obesity in America

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's leading authority on fitness and the largest nonprofit fitness certification, education and training organization in the world, today announced the launch of a national campaign that will focus on eliminating obesity in America.  As an extension of the organization's vision to motivate consumers about the critical need to regularly engage in physical activity and inspire them to make healthy living an integral part of their lives, this movement will leverage ACE's expansive network of nearly 50,000 certified professionals throughout the U.S. and thousands of additional fitness professionals around the country to educate, engage and empower Americans to live better and live longer.  With 32 percent of the population suffering from obesity and that percentage growing every year, ACE is committing its research and resources to overcome this nationwide epidemic.

"Because obesity is the cause of so many life-threatening diseases, we have pledged to take a bolder stance to position fitness and health at the center of American culture and, ultimately, eliminate obesity in our country," said Scott Goudeseune, ACE president and CEO.  "While we realize this is an ambitious goal, we also realize it is our responsibility to do everything in our power to create a healthier America.  Given what ACE has already done to support overall health and fitness, it's clear that we have a unique opportunity to lead this effort on behalf of the fitness industry.  We further believe, given the expertise of our nearly 50,000 certified fitness professionals as well as the support of valuable partners, this goal is attainable.  We are confident that ACE can significantly improve the health of our country by tapping into the strength of our network of certified fitness professionals as well as our partners and colleagues, and are poised to offer the essential education, resources and leadership for consumers in fighting this nationwide battle."

ACE's campaign to eliminate obesity includes the following initiatives:

• Working to create a paradigm shift where anyone who wants a certified personal trainer has access to one
• Developing localized programs that leverage fitness professionals as community ambassadors working to get more people and families everywhere involved in fitness
• Designing and supporting innovative opportunities and programs that connect fitness professionals to consumers
• Leveraging its 50,000 fitness professionals, existing tools and resources including continuing education, workshops, webinars, and the ACE Get Fit™ web portal that features an exercise library, fitness calculators and healthy recipes to get more people to embrace healthy living and be physically fit at every stage of their lives
• Tapping into its partners including AARP, the American Heart Association (AHA), the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, NuVal™ and others to join in the cause

"We want to see a country where people live longer, feel better and can spend more quality time with their family and friends," continued Goudeseune.  "To achieve this goal, we believe there needs to be a new approach to fitness, one that addresses the issues of time and expense, empowers those not currently active and encourages Americans of all ages to engage in healthy eating and physical activity.  By making fitness less intimidating, more enjoyable, accessible and community oriented, ACE will ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to get fit and enjoy the benefits a healthy lifestyle can provide.  There's a widely held notion that fitness is only attainable for a select few – we're going to show the American public that's certainly not the case."

Over the coming months, ACE will unveil additional supporting programs, partners and details of this campaign.  Be sure to visit www.acefitness.org for the latest updates and information.

About the American Council on Exercise

The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's premier certification, education and training organization, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction.  ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization.  For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE website at www.acefitness.org.

SOURCE American Council on Exercise