Try some up-and-coming fitness strategies, like balance training or using a stability ball.

Stability balls are more popular than ever.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is out, and the results are belt busting: In 32 states, obesity rates were 25 percent or more. The country continues to fatten up, with more than 26 percent of the population of U.S. adults now considered obese. Given that so many health problems, from diabetes to heart disease to cancer, are linked to obesity, the statistic is sobering. The good news: Exercise is a major weapon we can use to fight the fattening. A new report by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) highlights the current most popular trends in the fitness industry, and you can use them to help tighten your belt.

THE DETAILS: The top five fitness trends from 2008 were ranked the same in the current report: a push for more educated and experienced fitness professionals that can help us meet our fitness goals; a trend toward adding more programs to attack childhood obesity; hiring personal trainers; and working strength and core training into workouts.

But the top 10 list also includes three rising stars in the fitness world—stability balls, sport-specific training, and balance training. They may be catching on because they can make working out more interesting and fun, which makes it easier to stick to a program.