chapter

Chapter

13

13 Careers in Health and

Fitness

Careers in Health
and Fitness

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 persons 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

1990spresent

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
Bachelors degree in kinesiology or another healthand 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.

Health and Fitness Counselor

Replaces position of fitness instructor
Prescribes exercise programs
Works with clients on behavior change,
stress management, relaxation, time
management, smoking cessation, weight
management

(continued)

Health and Fitness Counselor

(continued)
Minimum of bachelors 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.

Personal Trainer
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
(continued)

Personal Trainer (continued)

Bachelors or masters 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.

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; bachelors 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

Health and Fitness Director

Manages facilitys 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
(continued)

Health and Fitness Director

(continued)
Bachelors 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 nations
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.