Brittany Dawn, a famous “fitness influencer,” has been back in the news recently. The state of Texas is suing Dawn for allegedly engaging in deceptive business practices. Dawn reportedly failed to deliver the customized nutrition and fitness plans she promised her customers via social media. Although her trial was postponed recently, we must continue to examine this case as there are valuable lessons.
This case allows ACE Certified Exercise Professionals and Health Coaches to help clients and potential clients appreciate and understand the importance of certification and all the ethical and educational requirements. These are the areas to highlight for clients interested in learning more about the case or if they aren’t convinced that a certified professional is a right choice.
Certification and Continuing Education
Fitness is not a licensed occupation. This means that anyone can claim to be an expert in the fitness field without any formal training or credentialing. This case against a fitness influencer highlights the importance of education and credentials in this field. ??
Earning an ACE certification and continuing education to renew it every two years shows dedication and expertise that will help you stand out from other social media influencers. Brittany Dawn, for example, cited her own experience with an eating disorder as a source of her knowledge. It is admirable to pursue a passion that comes from personal experience. However, being an expert in a particular topic doesn’t suffice. This requires continuing education and certification through a respected organization to keep up with the latest fitness trends and exercise science research.
There are also potential concerns regarding practice, which we’ll discuss below.
Code of EthicsCode of Ethics
All ACE Certified Pros must adhere to the ACE Code of Ethics. This begins when they register to take a certification exam. Must you also complete education on professional conduct at least every two years. ?
It is important to remember that the Code of Ethics was created to protect you legally and ethically and to give your clients and participants the assurance that you are acting within accepted ethical guidelines.
Scope of Practice
Each ACE Certification comes with its scope of practice, which defines the profession. The ACE Position Statement for Nutrition Scope for Practice for Exercise Professionals & Health Coaches can be found in all ACE textbooks. It outlines exactly what is within the scope for practice for all ACE Certified Pros. This includes sharing non-medical nutrition information and discussing topics such as healthy nutrition principles, food preparation, and foods that should be included in a balanced daily meal.
This statement also highlights what is not within the scope of practice. Brittany Dawn is accused of offering meal planning or nutrition recommendations individualized to her clients.
{Educating consumers about not only your capabilities as a professional but also the limitations that have been established regarding what topics you can discuss or services you can provide within your scope of practice demonstrates professionalism and trustworthiness. | Educating customers about your abilities as a professional and the limitations you have set regarding topics or services that you can discuss within your practice is professionalism.
Personalized Coaching and Programming
Ms. Dawn was accused of selling but not delivering personalized coaching. Instead, she used a generic, one size fits all approach. ACE Certified Professionals are known for their customized coaching and programming. This should be a distinctive point that you emphasize in your marketing and publicity. ACE has a number of programs that demonstrate its commitment to a personal approach, including the ACE Integrated Fitness Training (r) Model, ACE Mover Method ™, and the ACE RRAMP Approach (TM).
Some Final Thoughts
For some time, the fitness industry has struggled with the issue of “influencers.” It’s vital that we remember that many social media influencers act with the best intentions and offer sound advice. Many of them are highly educated in the area they advise. This is not intended to be a criticism of any social media platform, its users, or influencers.
This is a call for action to consumers to be more aware of who their advice is coming from and to social media influencers to look into the certifications that are available to them.
