An estimated 51.4 million Americans belong to a health club and, according to IHRSA’s latest data, 12.5 percent use personal-training services. But what about the rest of America, especially the growing overweight and obese population? Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese (Flegal et al., 2012), which means that 78 million adults, and more than 12 million children, are obese. This epidemic, costing the U.S. approximately $147 billion per year, feeds a $60 billion industry of products, services, diets and foods—all designed to help people lose weight. With the wave of diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic and other ailments linked to unhealthy weight, the American population is indeed in need of help.
Health coaches know how to help. But do you know how to reach those who aren’t among the 51.4 million who show up in gyms week after week?
