Health & Fitness I

Study Health and Fitness online. Learn how wellbeing can be improved through physical exercise. A standalone program or the first of three modules. Understand relationships between the body, health, fitness & exercise.

Course Code: BRE101

Payment Options

Duration (approx) 100 hours

Qualification Statement of Attainment

Home Study Health and Fitness Course -Online Course or Correspondence Course

Learn to understand and manage health and wellbeing by studying at home
Self paced fitness course, 100 hours, study from anywhere
Exceptional support from health and fitness professionals in both Australia and the UK
Help yourself, family, friends, or take a step toward a career in Health and fitness

Health and Fitness are only two of the many different words used to describe people’s physiological condition. The Health and Fitness industry is not a clearly defined industry, for it includes many aspects, and it overlaps onto many other fields, such a medicine, sports, recreation, tourism, education and so on. As you commence this course, your perception of the scope of this field may be limited, but by the time you complete the course, your perspective will have broadened considerably. Your ability to identify prospects for employment, and to pursue those that suit you, will have also broadened.

Many different services and products are on offer, all promising to improve or maintain the state of person’s wellbeing. They include such different things as medical services, sport, recreation services, food, and natural therapies. Any and all of these goods and services can be considered to be part of the health and fitness industry.

Job opportunities in health and fitness are equally varied. The following are just some of the organisations/businesses that might employ people with management skills in the health and fitness industry:

Leisure Centres	Gymnasiums	Swimming Pools
Sporting Clubs	Medical Practitioners	Chiropractors or naturopaths
Health Food Shops	Health food manufacturers	Schools
Sports equipment retailers	Sport equipment manufacturers	Sport Facilities
Resorts	Hotels	Tourist industry

Aims

Explain the nature of the health and fitness industries. Explain the relationship between the body and health, fitness & exercise, with reference to physiological processes. Explain the relationship between the body and health, fitness & exercise, with respect to risk involved in exercise. Evaluate body movements during different exercises. Design fitness programs, which are both safe and effective, to fulfil specified requirements of an individual. To deliver a fitness program to a small group of clients. Manage the wellbeing of participants in a fitness program, including safety and injury. Design fitness programs, which are both safe and effective, catering to needs of special populations (including weight control programs and programs for handicapped/disabled persons).

What You Will Do

Explain the philosophical basis of health and fitness in a workplace you are familiar with, explain legal implications of providing fitness services in a gymnasium in your locality and explain official systems of accreditation, registration, and licensing which relate to providing services in the health and fitness industries, on a local, state or national basis. Explain the status of professionalism, in the health and fitness industry and develop guidelines for ethical behaviour of staff in a health and fitness industry workplace. Explain a physiological response to a balanced exercise program over a period of months, in an adult who has not regularly exercised for many years (i.e. what happens to the adult over the time period of the exercise). Explain the mechanics of body movement during three different exercises, using illustrations. Apply the principles of training, to design an exercise program to suit your lifestyle, resources and aims and design instructions, for two different series of stretching routines, for different purposes. Explain how the principles of leadership and learning principles may be applied in a fitness program by analysing different motivational techniques being used by a leader, in a fitness session which you observe. Develop a checklist of criteria which are critical to customer satisfaction in the delivery of a fitness program. Develop safety procedures for a specified fitness setting. Compare different weight loss programs. Explain the general benefits of regular exercise, for different demographic groups including: Paraplegics Elderly Overweight people Design a weight control program for a specific person and design a healthy weight gain program for a specific person.

Lesson Structure

Introduction to Health and Fitness Scope and Nature of the Health and Fitness Industry Exploring the Definition of Fitness Components of Physical Fitness (Strength, Muscular Endurance, Flexibility, Motor Skill Performance, Cardiorespiratory Endurance) Health and Fitness Resources Health and Fitness Organisations Exercise Physiology Muscle, and Muscle Contraction Fast and Slow Muscle Exercise and Muscle Cardiorespiratory System Pulse Rate Energy Enzymes Food as an Energy Source Recommended Daily Intake of Nutrients Respiration Exercise Recovery Exercise Principles and Cardiorespiratory Programming Relationship between heart rate and workload Biology of the Circulatory System Blood Composition Blood Functions; clotting, immunity Blood Vessels The Heart Pulse Rate, Cardiac Output Heart Disease, Cardiovascular Disease Spleen, Lymphatic System Biomechanics and Risk The Skeleton The Muscular System -Tendons, Ligaments, Bursas Training and Risk Common Musculoskeletal Injuries Back Injuries, Spinal Injuries Tips for Preventing Injury Fitness Program Design Typical Fitness Program Design Process Kinds of Exercise Developing the Physique A Balanced Program Indoor and Outdoor Locations -facilities and equipment in each Music Delivering a Fitness Program Fitness Leader Functions; teaching, planning, counselling, motivation, evaluation, creating opportunity, etc Leadership Communication, and Communication Barriers Communicating with Children and Young People Communication Techniques eg. Whistle, Raising arm, etc Motivation Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Factors Affecting Motivation Self Belief and Self Talk Relationship with Participants Motivation for Fitness and Weight Control Nutrition and Sport Weight Control Sports Psychologists and Fitness Programmes Program Delivery Elements of a Session or Class; Introduction, Warm Up, Stretch, Body of Exercise Session,Recovery, etc Concluding a Session Writing an Exercise Program Supporting Participants Needs Communication Strategies, Active Listening, Giving Instructions, Reinforcement, etc Dealing with Problems and Conflict Safety, Injury and General Wellbeing Safety Considerations Incorrect Exercises Safety in Aerobic Activities Dealing with Injury; First Aid Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Identifying Hazards Fitness Legalities Pre Screening Clients Suitable Surfaces Clothing and Footwear Pre Screening Anthropometric Measurements Cancer and General Wellbeing Fitness Programs for Special Groups Inclusive Program Management Exercise Variables (frequency, duration, intensity) Special Considerations Training Zones Older Adults Mental Disabilities Physical Disabilities Ethnic Groups Programs for Weight Control Evaluating Cardio Respiratory Endurance Evaluating Muscular Strength and Endurance Principle of Weight Control

Accreditations

Study Gold CoastACS Global PartnerInternational Approval and Registration Centre

Tips for Reducing Health Risks

Certain health behaviours are known to be associated with increased mortality and morbidity for a number of conditions. Examples of known risk factors include smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and exposure to UV radiation. Improvements in health status can result from behaviour changes in relation to these risk factors.

Many health risks have changed in the last century with antibiotics, clean drinking water, and waste care and treatment. A few of the most common causes of death, which can often be closely linked to lifestyle choices, today are:

Cardiovascular disease
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancers
Ischaemic heart disease
Stroke
Respiratory disease and infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Accidents including drowning, falling, driving (many are alcohol-related)
Diabetes mellitus
Alzheimer's disease
Kidney disease
Poisoning

Another very important risk factor today is obesity. Not only is it a health risk in itself – it also can lead to other problems with health such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems just to name a few. This is not a global risk, but it is certainly a problem for countries such as the U.S.A, Australia and a few other developed countries.

Being overweight or obese is associated with increased mortality and morbidity from a number of conditions including coronary heart disease, hypertension, non-insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus and degenerative joint disease. By reducing body mass index (BMI), which is a statistical measurement of a person’s ideal weight for their particular height, a person can increase their health and reduce the risk of developing diseases associated with obesity. You should note BMI measurements do not calculate a person’s percentage of body fat as commonly misinterpreted. The benefits of exercise go beyond the initial idea of weight loss.

Regular exercise is important in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease by strengthening the heart muscle and decreasing resting blood pressure rate. In addition to cardiovascular benefits, regular exercise strengthens bone tissue and so can also reduce the risk of injury from falls and conditions such as osteoporosis later in life.

Exercised muscle tissues need time and energy to recover and repair and so you continue to utilise energy stores after exercise is finished and even during sleep. This increases basal metabolism (the energy used by the body while at rest). You feel more energised after exercise as blood flow has increased to all vital organs and the skin carrying oxygen and other essential nutrients to cells.

A human health risk factor translates as something that increases a person’s chance for developing a disease. Disease can also be looked at dis-ease or stress. Stress occurs as a result of changes in your daily routine. It causes chemical changes in the brain and can have a direct affect on your health. Consider when you experience times of great happiness in your life. You may feel energetic, active yet calm. The chances are you are producing high levels of the hormones serotonin and melatonin. Melatonin acts as an anti-oxidant, mopping up harmful chemicals, also known as free radicals, which can be found in our blood; and it protects essential fatty-acids which make up parts of cells of the brain and nervous system, for example. Melatonin is also involved in the production of cells of the immune system, enabling you to fight infection as soon as you are at risk. So clearly if you feel good, your body produces hormones which lead to physical health and well-being. If you have low levels of serotonin (serotonin production is lowered as insulin levels rise – often as result of high levels of carbohydrate intake – this can be linked back to healthy nutritional balance) you may suffer from feeling depressed, irritable and even experience periods of insomnia.

By pushing the body to cope in times of stress, you often exhaust energy sources and this therefore results in a reduced ability of the body to deal with bacterial or viral infection or to repair tissue damage. Also heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart palpitations and stroke may be stress related cardiovascular conditions. Often people feel the effects of negative stress as fatigue, various aches and pains (often lower back complaints) and headaches. It can be quite simply put; stress is detrimental to a person’s physical health.

Stress on the human body can be as a result of psychological circumstances, chemical or mechanical. There are so many chemicals that create a health risk in our immediate environment and in the community. Today chemicals are a part of our household. Cleaning materials can pose a threat if not used properly. This is currently a somewhat divisive subject as it is often the case that people who believe they have been affected by chemicals bought from supermarkets and used in their homes, have not had their cases fully investigated.

It has been suggested that products that are meant to reduce the risk of disease from bacterial infection i.e. anti-bacterial household cleaners, can actually lead to greater, more serious health risks by creating a resistance in certain bacterial strains. Like antibiotic medication, anti-bacterial cleaners, work on the same principle of prohibiting bacterial growth (numbers) by damaging the bacterial cell itself to prevent reproduction. The problem faced is that some bacteria are becoming resistant to the chemicals which are meant to destroy them or prevent their growth. Scientists face problems in terms of creating new anti-bacterial agents to destroy the new strains which evolve. This means we are still subjected to the bacteria which exist in the home environment.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is suitable to many people including:

Health & fitness industry personnel
Sports coaches
Heath & wellness coaches
Fitness instructors
Personal trainers
Recreation industry personnel
Sport & leisure industry personnel
Health scientists
Healthcare professionals
Teachers
Researchers
Writers

Enrol to discover more about the relationship between our bodies and health and fitness.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).

What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.

Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.

How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.

What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.

Take a look at their testimonials here.

What if I change my mind?

Our terms and conditions of enrolment are here.

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.

Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

John Edwards

Professional photographer. Experienced in Environmental and Water Services management. Has traveled extensively for photography projects. John has a BA (Hons) Photography, BSc (Hons) Env.Mgt, PGCE

Karen Lee

Nutritional Scientist, Dietician, Teacher and Author.
BSc. Hons. (Biological Sciences), Postgraduate Diploma Nutrition and Dietetics.
Registered dietitian in the UK, with over 15 years working in the NHS. Karen has undertaken a number of research projects and has lectured to undergraduate university students. Has co authored two books on nutrition and several other books in health sciences.

Health & Fitness I

Aims

What You Will Do

Lesson Structure

Accreditations

Tips for Reducing Health Risks

Who Is This Course For?

How can I start this course?

What do I need to know before I enrol?

Who are ACS Distance Education?

How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

What if I have any more questions or need more information?

What if I change my mind?

Course Contributors

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

John Edwards

Karen Lee

Lyn Quirk

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