Discovery Learning and Weight Management Centre have now launched the new SkillsActive approved Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Management Certificate. The course provides a very high level of competency in the multi-disciplinary field of obesity management for those wishing to work with overweight and obese subjects who may also have multiple co-morbidities. The training covers: psychology, behaviour, advanced nutrition, pharmacotherapy, aetiology of obesity, pre and post bariatric surgery management, as well as practical subjects for setting up effective and NICE compliant obesity and weight management programmes.
Successful students will be eligible to work with all categories of overweight and obese client, and this qualification will offer significant career opportunities. A key benefit to employers is access to lucrative health service contracts, with Primary Care Trust's actively seeking partners (and currently awarding contracts) with health and fitness operators. The course will allow existing level 3 instructors to register at the new level 4 status on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REP’s) and the intention is to now work alongside one of the fitness industry’s prominent Awarding Bodies to place the Award on the Qualification and Credits Framework (QCF).
Weight Management Centre has been supporting the Fitness Industry with weight and obesity management services for 10 years and Director, Alan Jackson, said, “This course provides the industry with a high-level evidence based qualification, backed up with practical components based upon the many that we have been delivering obesity treatments. It will allow fitness operators to legitimately approach their health service, knowing that they have a staff team with unrivalled professional credentials”.
If the Foresight projections are accurate, by 2050 nine out of ten of the UK adult population will be overweight or obese. The market for the “classic” health club member disintegrating annually, and perhaps now is the time to reappraise the model. Jackson concludes: “As an Industry this represents a genuine step forward in our bid to be a key partner to the Government in its efforts to reverse the current obesity epidemic and I would urge all training managers to consider the benefits of senior instructors having this new qualification”.
