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FITNESS INDUSTRY EDUCATION DELIVERS NEW ADOLESCENT GYM QUALIFICATION

Press release June 27, 2008

Fitness Industry Education (FIE) has added the new Level 2 Award in Adapting Gym Instruction for Adolescents from Active IQ to their training course portfolio.

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Fitness Industry Education (FIE) (http://www.fitnessindustryeducation.co.uk/) has added the new Level 2 Award in Adapting Gym Instruction for Adolescents from Active IQ (http://www.fitnessindustryeducation.co.uk/GymforAdolescenceDistanceStudy/tabid/10418/Default.aspx) to their training course portfolio.

With the number of obese teenagers in the UK doubling in the last two decades, the course aims to develop knowledge of adapting gym-based training programmes for adolescents aged 12-16 years. It is widely recognised that a higher level of physical activity in adolescence is associated with a higher level of physical activity in adulthood. The amount of physical activity declines from youth to adulthood with the steepest decline around age 12. The new course targets this specific age group, introducing and reinforcing the message of an active lifestyle. It also seeks to set out an understanding of the physiological and psychological issues that this age group face and how they affect their ability to exercise.

 "Whilst much has been made in the past of not training youngsters in the gym, we need to recognise that at this age it does become ‘make or break' as to the habits that adolescents will carry on with them into adult life. We're not talking strict weight training here, instead we are focusing on activity and utilising different aspects of the health club for overall physical fitness and development. School children frequently spend an hour or so at gyms as part of school fitness programmes. They are usually supervised by a teacher as well as gym staff and try a range of exercise equipment from cardiovascular to resistance-based. Most of this activity is no more dangerous than swinging a bat, jumping over a bar or hurling a javelin at school. We as health and fitness professionals just need to understand some of the specific modifications that are necessary for this age group and make sure that the work they are doing is safe, comfortable, but most of all enjoyable" comments Michael Betts, Director of Fitness Industry Education.

"It is vital to understand the difference between strength training, weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding. Strength training uses resistance methods to increase the ability to exert or resist force. Weightlifting and powerlifting are competitive sports that contest maximum lifting ability in specific lifts, while bodybuilding is an aesthetic sport that does not involve competitive lifts but depends on weight training. Much of the controversy regarding adolescents and gym work regarding injuries and growth development are associated with the sports of weightlifting and powerlifting and not with competently supervised strength training programmes. It's vital people understand how to adapt these principles for the adolescent population and how to supervise them rather than trying to apply a ‘one size fits all' solution; the kind of approach where we replicate for adolescents the programmes and instructions we use for our normal adult gym members" explains Steele Williams, CEO of fitness fx.

The course is available now through online study and is fully accredited with Active IQ and the Register of Exercise Professional (REPs).

For more details on this course, any imagery, or to find out more about Fitness Industry Education, email [email protected] or call 0845 257 8570.

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