#United States #Phoenix #GLP-1 #weight loss #ISSA

ISSA Launches Comprehensive GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) is stepping into a new era of weight management by launching its GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training. This innovative program is designed specifically for personal trainers, health coaches, and fitness professionals. The signaling change comes at a pivotal moment, with projections from Morgan Stanley Research that over 24 million Americans will rely on prescription weight loss medications by 2035. ISSA recognizes the essential need for fitness professionals to be properly equipped to guide their clients through the complexities of weight loss supported by medication, specifically GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.

Understanding the Importance of Holistic Support

This new training course transcends a typical pharmacological focus. Rather, it introduces a holistic approach to weight loss, integrating critical insights from exercise science, health coaching, and emotional wellness to foster sustainable change. Natalie Mayslich, ISSA's Chief Operating Officer, emphasizes that success requires more than just knowledge of medications; it requires strategies that resonate with clients' real-life experiences. "Trainers need more than science—they need strategies that best help their clients succeed," she states.

In this realm of evolving health practices, trainers are encouraged to become not just knowledgeable about medications, but also empathetic guides in their clients' transformative journeys. The course seeks to empower health and fitness professionals to embody these roles effectively.

Key Features of ISSA's Training Program

1. Behavioral and Emotional Coaching: This aspect helps trainers to better support clients dealing with the challenges of emotional eating and shifts in body image as they navigate their weight loss journeys.

2. Muscle Preservation Focus: With some GLP-1 users reportedly losing over 20% of their body weight in a year, understanding how to preserve muscle mass while losing weight becomes essential for health practitioners directly interacting with these clients.

3. Clarity on Scope of Practice: One of the defining features of this training is its commitment to safeguarding the professional boundaries for health and fitness experts, ensuring they provide impactful support without overstepping into medical territory.

4. Collaboration with Health Coach Experts: Developed in tandem with the Health Coach Institute, the program emphasizes behavioral change and coaching psychology, both crucial for lasting client transformations.

Brooke Jeffries, the Pathway Program Director at the Health Coach Institute, emphasizes the importance of supporting clients in making necessary mindset shifts to maintain weight loss success. She shares, "True, lasting transformation requires more than a prescription. Coaches empower clients by addressing nutrition, exercise, emotional wellness, and body image issues that accompany significant weight loss."

Why ISSA is a Leader in Fitness Education

ISSA boasts a rich 35-year history as a pioneer in online fitness and wellness education, having certified nearly half a million trainers across 176 countries. Their dedication to integrating science-based education with real-world applicability positions them as industry leaders. The newly launched GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training aligns perfectly with their mission to prepare fitness professionals for every aspect of client care.

As the health and wellness sector continues to evolve, ISSA's training will equip professionals to stand out in an increasingly competitive environment, ultimately making significant impacts in the lives of their clients. Interested professionals can gain further insight about the program by visiting ISSA Online.

In conclusion, ISSA's initiative not only enhances professional capabilities in weight management but also nurtures a compassionate approach to client transformation, ensuring that fitness professionals are prepared to meet the needs of a new wave of weight loss clients.