Chapter 13 Careers in Health and Fitness

13

Careers in Health and Fitness

chapter

Jeremy Howell and Sandra Minor Bulmer

Figure 13.1

Professions in Health and Fitness

• Group exercise instructor • Fitness instructor• Health and fitness counselor• Personal trainer• Health and fitness director• Specialist positions

– Certified health educator – Clinical exercise physiologist– Registered dietitian

• Others

Goal of Health and Fitness Professions

To improve a person’s physical functioning and physical health

Figure 13.2

Expanding Scope of Health and Fitness Profession

Scope of work is expanding to include a multifaceted view of health and fitness, including physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Health and Fitness Settings

Worksite settings• Early programs

– Narrow focus (physical fitness, nutrition, weight control, stress management, and smoking cessation)

– Only for employees

• 1990s–present– Additional services– Healthy lifestyle approach– Ergonomic workstations– Employee assistance programs– Elaborate on-site fitness facilities– Outsourced fitness programs (even those offered on-site)– Open to all people covered by company health insurance

(families, retirees, etc.)

Employee Health and Fitness Programs

Employers have found that health and fitness programs reduce health care costs, increase productivity and morale, decrease absenteeism, and improve their corporate image.

Health Care Costs

Bungum and colleagues (2003) found that those who had healthier body weights, calculated by body mass index (BMI), reported fewer absent work days and decreased health care costs.

Health and Fitness Settings

• Commercial settings – Sales-based facilities – Retention-based facilities– For-profit businesses compete for customers, which

encourages innovative programming.

• Clinical settings– Work in partnership with both medically based professionals

and clients with diagnosed medical conditions– Goal is often to keep the subscribers of their health insurance

partners and programs healthy and avoid expensive medical procedures in the future. Increasingly, many of these facilities also offer memberships to the public similar to those offered by commercial clubs.

(continued)

Health and Fitness Settings (continued)

• Community settings– Target specific groups to fill specific needs– Often are nonprofit organizations (YMCA, city parks

and recreation programs)– Include health departments and local and national

agencies (American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association)

– Have more limited funding– Provide health and wellness opportunities for as

many as they can service

Figure 13.3

Group Exercise Instructor• Leads aerobic exercise classes, outdoor activities,

aquatic fitness classes, exercise classes for specific populations (older adults, pregnant women, children)

• Degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline recommended

• Current exercise trends– Pilates– Yoga and tai chi

• ACSM exercise leader• ACE group fitness instructor• Needs to be knowledgeable and dynamic, have

excellent leadership skills, and enjoy working with people in a group setting

Fitness Instructor

• Works with apparently healthy adults• Conducts fitness assessments, designs

individualized exercise programs• Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or another health-

and fitness-related discipline recommended• Youth programs are growing; they cater to the

unique needs of children, focusing on play while emphasizing a level of movement and activity that allows for conditioning, caloric expenditure, and skill development.

• Needs to be able to excite people to become and stay physically active.

(continued)

• Replaces position of fitness instructor• Prescribes exercise programs• Works with clients on behavior change,

stress management, relaxation, time management, smoking cessation, weight management

Health and Fitness Counselor

Health and Fitness Counselor (continued)

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• ACSM health/fitness instructor• ACE lifestyle and weight management consultant• Leads clients to make appropriate decisions• Needs to be organized, understand the principles of

behavior change, have excellent communication skills, and be effective in marketing and promoting programs and services.

• Weight management, stress management, physical fitness, sport conditioning

• Current trend: specializing in working with special populations

• Works independently or is employed at a facility

• Business savvy• “Counselor”• Aesthetic or performance objectives

Personal Trainer

(continued)

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• ACSM health/fitness instructor• Extensive experience• Needs to be able to continually present new

and exciting ways to keep clients on track, interested, motivated, and excited about making changes and maintaining new health behaviors as part of their lifestyle.

Personal Trainer (continued)

Specialist Positions

• Sport coach, athletic trainer, health educator, clinical exercise physiologist, physical therapist, registered dietitian (some, such as the strength coach, are covered in chapter 14)

• Graduate-level studies; bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• Many require certifications, licensure• Client base with medical conditions: registered

dietitian and ACSM exercise specialist

(continued)

Health and Fitness Director

• Manages facility’s services and programs• May supervise team of managers• Hires, trains, and provides support for staff• Does business planning, establishes

budgets and renovations, selects equipment, designs and markets programs, forecasts trends

Health and Fitness Director (continued)

• Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology • May require graduate degree• Experience as health and fitness counselor or

personal trainer• Broad, interdisciplinary education• ACSM health or fitness director• Needs to be a visionary who keeps current with the

field of health and fitness and a mentor who supports staff members in moving toward individual goals and aspirations.

Marketplace Trends and Opportunities

• Multidimensional model of wellness• Health care reform• Demographics

Multidimensional Model of Wellness

• Physical• Intellectual• Emotional• Social• Spiritual

Health and fitness professionals are increasingly being called on to integrate exercise and physical fitness into a broader definition of health.

Figure 13.4

Health Care Reform

• New model– All subscribers pay fee; provider must take care of

needs of all subscribers within budget– Preventive services

Figure 13.5

Physical Activity and Health Care Costs

Physical activity is being viewed increasingly as an integral component of the nation’s health care delivery system.

Demographics

• Aging of American society• Increasingly diverse nation• Health care costs• Medicare costs• Implications for health and fitness

professionals

Figure 13.6

Certification and Continuing Education

• Minimum criteria must be met to be hired and maintain your position in the health and fitness professions.

• Several certification organizations can assist with this process: – American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)– National Strength and Conditioning Association

(NSCA)– National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)– Cooper Institute (CI)– American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Advice for Health and Fitness Students

• Earn a combined degree in kinesiology plus another discipline (health, psychology).

• Seek practical experience through practicum opportunities and internships.

• Attend workshops and obtain certifications through NSCA, ACSM, ACE, CI.

• Stay current: Read health and fitness journals and industry publications.

• Maximize your marketability with your choice of elective courses.

Health and Fitness

The world of health and fitness is ever changing, making this profession dynamic and exciting. Pay attention to the trends and tailor your degree to meet your individual career goals.