26/09/2023
Is certification important?
It is important to note that many social media influencers are well educated in the areas in which they are advising, but a good majority are not qualified. Pursuing a passion based on one's own experience is admirable and part of the personal story of many health and fitness professionals, but it is not enough to establish expertise in a given topic. The recent court case against Brittany Dawn by the state of Texas is a step in the right direction. She was accused of allegedly using deceptive business practices by not delivering the personalized fitness and nutritional plans she promised to her social media followers, who turned into customers.
Fitness is a non-licensed occupation, meaning anyone can claim to be an expert with little to no formal training or proper credentialing. But like any other profession, we are guided by a code of ethics. It is not only important for us to get certification as fitness professionals, but it is also upon us to educate our clients on its importance.
It is a call to action to consumers to become more informed about whose advice they are taking, as well as for social media influencers to seek out the education and certification required to act responsibly and in the best interests of their clients. As fitness trainers, let us not only unite and work together to improve our beloved fitness industry but to also ensure we are certified as we share our craft.
