AUSactive report findings stress important role of personal trainers in nation's health and wellbeing

AUSactive has been highlighting the integral role that fitness centres and personal trainers play in the nation's health and wellbeing.

Drawing from its A More Active Australia For a Healthier Nation Research Report, developed in conjunction with Deakin University, AUSActive has highlighted that fitness centres and personal trainers form the backbone of Australia’s exercise-based physical activity, with, prior to COVID-19 lockdowns, 51% of exercise-based energy expenditure in Australia coming from physical activity in fitness centres and via personal trainers. 

While the headline information in the 80-page report was on the mental health implications of COVID lockdowns, it also stated “these findings show that Australia’s fitness and leisure centres and personal trainers are integral to the national exercise-based physical activity, making far more of a contribution to the nation’s health and wellbeing than many of us realise.”

The report went on to highlight, that the lack of a national physical activity strategy “relevant to Australians of all walks of life” and that with Australia having “demonstrated outstanding progress and success stories when it comes to population health, including in relation to smoking, heart disease and alcohol control … the present moment represents an incredible opportunity to add to that record by addressing the next culprit in line that burdens the economy and health system - physical inactivity.”

Noting the current challenge, the report further emphasises the importance of fitness centres and personal trainers, advising “almost two-thirds of nation’s decline in exercise-based physical activity during COVID-19 attributable to closure of fitness centres and personal training.”

The report also presents AUSactive’s ‘Vision for the future’, in line with the World Health Organization’s ‘whole-of-systems’ approach, AUSactive have designed a plan to get Australian’s physically active again. This includes:

• AUSactive has already engaged stakeholders across the country who will match a fitness voucher incentive offered by government to their members and prospective members.

• AUSactive proposes that governments support the fitness centre and PT industry by incentivising Australian’s to participate in exercise through a voucher scheme.

• Undertake a national public awareness and public education campaign.

• Alongside the proposed initiatives, AUSactive requests government funding in order to undertake a regional community roadshow.

Economic modelling conducted as part of the independent research found:

• 44% of Australians indicate that financial incentives will help get them back into exercise sooner post-COVID

• 44% of Australians say that exercising is more important to them now that they are not actively commuting to work as much as they did before COVID-19

• A ‘fitness voucher’ incentive that encourages Australians to get physically active via fitness centres and personal trainers will provide health and economic benefits to the value of $2.9 billion

• The ROI to the health system from a fitness voucher is $3.11 per person for each $1 spent, should eligible Australians aged 20-79 be offered a $100 voucher.

Click here to view AUSactive’s A More Active Australia For a Healthier Nation Research Report.

Main image credit Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.