Become an Exceptional Fitness Professional

If you are interested in health and fitness but wish to know more about the science and hard facts which underlie the benefits of exercise on health, then this science based course could be ideal for you.

In addition to the core subjects you can choose elective modules that suit your specific goals and learning needs.

• Learn to be more effective as a fitness professional
• Take a holistic approach to fitness
• Understand how nutrition, psychology, exercise, genetics and other factors are all intertwined.

COURSE CONTENT

Core Modules
These modules provide foundation knowledge for the Fitness Science advanced certificate.

• Advanced Aerobics BRE208
• Human Biology 1A (Anatomy and Physiology) BSC101
• Research Project I BGN102
• Human Biology IB (Bioenergetics) BSC201
• Human Biology II (Muscles and Movement) BSC202
• Human Biology III (Cardio Respiratory Performance) BSC301    
     

Elective Modules
In addition to the core modules, students study any 3 of the following 27 modules.

• Anatomy II (Human) BSC112
• Industry Project BIP000
• Biopsychology I BPS108
• Fitness Risk Management VRE104
• Health and Fitness I (Fitness Leadership) BRE101
• Human Nutrition and Food 1 BRE102
• Medical Terminology BSC109
• Physiology II BSC111
• Cell Biology BSC110
• Sports Psychology BPS106
• Workshop I BGN103
• Biochemistry I (Animal) BSC103
• Aquafitness BRE207
• Business Studies BBS101
• Biochemistry II (Plant and Animal) BSC203
• Event Management BRE209
• Food Preparation BRE212
• Health and Fitness II (Fitness Program Management) BRE201
• Healthy Buildings I (Building Construction & Health) BSS200
• Human Nutrition and Food II BRE202
• Resistance and Gym Supervision BRE206
• Therapeutic Nutrition BRE211
• Technical Writing (Advanced) BWR301
• Biochemistry III (Animal Processes) BSC303
• Health and Fitness III (Fitness Evaluation and Management) BRE301
• Healthy Buildings II (Building Environment & Health) BSS300
• Human Nutrition III (Disease & Nutrition) BRE302
• Neuropsychology BPS306
• Psychopharmacology (Drugs and Psychology) BPS302
• Sports Nutrition BRE303
• Weight Loss Consultation Course BRE307

Fitness Requires a Holistic Approach

Fitness has many components, and each component affects all others. What you eat can strengthen or weaken the body. The exercise you do is critical to maintaining strength and flexibility of the body, but without an appropriate diet, the physical body cannot carry out the necessary exercise. 

Psychology is also intricately intertwined with the physical state of the body. Without a good state of mind we are not going to be motivated to eat and exercise properly. Our physical health can impact on our mental health and vice versa. There are many examples of links between mental health and physical health problems which are not only detrimental to the individual's quality of life, but which put strain on health care services and the wellbeing of society as a whole.

Real fitness is thus complex, and cannot be understood and managed really well without a holistic education and a thirst to keep learning through experience and ongoing learning after an initial course.

Other fitness or health courses may provide you with an education to help people with one aspect of their fitness (eg. exercise). This course is longer, more scientific and more holistic than most courses though. 

Exercise 

Exercise is useful to reduce stress. As well as stress, it can also reduce a person’s risk of other major illnesses, such as strokes, diabetes, heart disease and cancer by up to 50%.  But today so many of us have less exercise than we should. We drive to places when we could walk.  We may have jobs that require us to sit down on a computer for hours of the day, we may watch TV instead of go for a walk, or play video games instead of playing netball or football, and so on.  The UK Department of Health call this sedentary life style – the “silent killer”. 

"If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented"
(Dr Nick Cavill, Health Promotion Expert)

There is a lot of scientific evidence to show that leading a physically active life can lead to a healthier and happier life, reducing the risk of a lot of chronic disease, as mentioned above. But we can also improve our mental health with physical activity. Physical activity can boost our self-esteem, boost our mood, improve the quality of our sleep, increase our energy and also reduce the risk of stress, dementia, depression and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The National Health Service in the UK have conducted research and found the following benefits from regular activity. 

35% lower risk of stroke and coronary heart disease
50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes
50% lower risk of colon cancer
20% lower risk of breast cancer
30% lower risk of early death
83% lower risk of osteoarthritis
68% lower risk of hip fracture
30% lower risk of falls in older adults

But also they found there was a 30% lower risk of depression and a 30% lower risk of dementia.

So, how much exercise is required to improve a person’s physical and mental health? The National Health Service suggests that moderate intensity aerobic activity is the most important form of exercise. This means you are working hard enough to break a sweat and raise your heart rate.  This includes activities such as walking fast, pushing a lawn mower, or playing tennis. They suggest that 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic activity is important.

Optimising health and wellbeing is a complex process so the broadest possible understanding is required.