Reaching the public: The Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow is run by Diabetes UK and MEND


“Key to the course is the issue of


stigma and prejudice, which is still pervasive around obesity. We want instructors to leave the course with a more open and accepting attitude, as it’s the fear of being stigmatised that often puts people off seeking help from the fi tness industry – an industry that’s perceived to be full of beautiful, thin people. We help instructors to see and work with the person, not the condition – a hugely necessary skill.”


enhanced certification In the Netherlands, fitness association Fit!vak – in conjunction with local universities and sports medicine associations – has developed a new protocol for both fitness instructors and health clubs wanting to work with people with diabetes, as well as those in a ‘pre-diabetes’ stage – ie obese and overweight people. Fit!vak project manager Dyon Voogt


explains: “Unfortunately, at the moment, most people in the Netherlands start their exercise prescription programme with specialist physical therapists rather than at health clubs. Fit!vak is trying to address this by improving the quality of the offering at clubs.” In the new protocol, instructors


must be qualifi ed to at least Level 4 in diabetes and obesity – able to effectively train, evaluate and communicate with this audience. In addition, a special category of qualifi cation for Level 4 has been introduced: a national level, pre- diabetic specialist qualifi cation.


october 2011 © cybertrek 2011 Meanwhile, clubs must meet a range


of criteria, including having a defi brillator on-site, staff trained in fi rst aid, suitably qualifi ed and EREPS-registered instructors, and appropriate CV and resistance equipment. All Fit!vak members are accredited


by the organisation at a ‘Basic’ level, but the new protocol has allowed for a higher ‘Plus’ level to be introduced. Launched in September, and externally audited by an independent organisation, the ‘Plus’ certifi cation involves an assessor going on-site to ensure that the protocol is being implemented absolutely to the letter. The expectation is for 50 clubs to


achieve this higher level quality seal by the end of 2011, with 150 by the end of 2012 and 350 over the next three years.


diabetes quality seal In Germany, a health club owned by operator JUST FIT was the first in the country to be awarded a Quality Seal for Diabetics, developed by the German Diabetics Society and independent technical testing agency TÜV Rheinland (see HCM July 11, p14). The remainder of JUST FIT’s 14-strong estate will now also be certified. The stringent list of criteria that


clubs must meet to achieve this certifi cation encompass four areas: staffi ng requirements (the need for diabetic specialists in-house, for example, qualifi ed both at a basic and a professional level), necessary equipment for tests (blood glucose, blood pressure,


urine etc), emergency management systems (emergency procedures and responsibilities, fi rst aid, and a diabetes emergency kit on each fl oor of the gym including apple juice/Coca-Cola and dextrose/glucose), and the training offer. In terms of the training offer, clubs


must – under the management of qualifi ed staff specialising in diabetes – either run courses for no more than 15 people, or else offer one-to-one sessions. Blood glucose and blood pressure measurements are mandatory before and after the fi rst workout – in addition to taking a full medical history – to determine the individual programme recommendations; voluntary testing is also available for ketone (via blood/ urine tests). All results must be fully documented and assessed for possible implications, and no clients can be taken on without approval from a GP. Frank Böhme, founder of JUST FIT,


says: “In addition to specialist technical know-how, our trainers also need strong pedagogical and psychological skills. Motivating these clients requires a level of professional empathy that trainers only gain after several years of experience. The sensitive management of the client by an experienced coach


– in a methodical mix of education, communication and medical training therapy – determines the long-term success and helps avoid a premature termination of exercise therapy.”


healthclub@leisuremedia.com kate cracknell


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 53


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