Insta fitness ‘circus’
Gym experts warn of explosion in under-trained cowboy operators
GYM-GOERS should be checking out more than abs when signing on with a personal trainer, a Gold Coast fitness veteran warns.
Mark Mathie, owner of Wicked Bodz at Surfers Paradise, said the industry had become a “complete circus” and was in dire need of regulation.
Though industry peak bodies like Fitness Australia existed, all three levels of government had only limited standards when it came to the fitness industry, he said, many of these related to zoning and fair trading codes of practice.
Federal government body Sport Australia last year committed to a national accreditation scheme for sports scientists, and strength and conditioning coaches. But it did not include personal trainers or gym operators.
Mr Mathie, who has spent more than three decades working in health and fitness, said there had been an explosion in the number of uninsured, undertrained “cowboy operators”.
TO TAKE SOMEONE’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN THEIR HANDS WITHOUT THE RIGHT TRAINING, IT’S CRAZY
MARK MATHIE OF WICKED BODZ
“The first word that comes to mind when talking about the industry is ‘saturation’,” he said.
“The second is ‘under-regulated’. It is dangerous.
“We now have Insta fitness gurus that don’t even have qualifications selling programs and diets.
“To take someone’s health and wellbeing in their hands without the right training, it’s crazy.”
He said qualifications needed to be standardised across all gyms so consumers knew they were in safe hands.
“We need compulsory traineeships for at least six to 12 months,” he said.
Fitness Australia CEO Bill Moore said the industry was self-regulated.
“Those that register with Fitness Australia have annual training commitments and standards but it’s not mandatory for those who aren’t affiliated with us,” Mr Moore said.
“I think the level of selfregulation has deteriorated.
“I feel there are more exercise professionals working outside the system.”
Fitness Australia, is however, attempting to establish a code of practice for all councils and states to adopt, which would include a need for insurance, CPR training and minimum qualifications.
Mark Stitt, the founder of international fitness training organisation Fit College, said the industry needed help.
“Unfortunately, sometimes the only reason people seek quick training is so they can be insured to be a PT,” he said. “But I don’t believe they survive too long in the marketplace.”
He said there was an overabundance of unqualified trainers.
Smaller operators make up 20.6 per cent of the 3356 gyms in Australia.