The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has launched a new course called Taking Action with ACE: Practicing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as an Exercise Professional.

The organisation says it will "better equip exercise professionals to support diverse communities, use an inviting environment to boost client engagement and retention and be better advocates for the fitness industry."

“For too long, inclusion just hasn’t been a priority of the fitness industry,” said ACE CEO, Scott Goudeseune. “This course will help exercise professionals and health coaches provide effective services to communities that have felt left out of health and fitness spaces.”

ACE collaborated with Jessica Jackson, instructional designer and racial equity strategist at TorranceLearning, to produce the course in six modules.

On completion, exercise professionals will be able to:

1. Consider how social determinants of health and health disparities affect access to health and fitness resources.

2. Mitigate implicit bias in interactions with diverse peers, clients and members.

3. Strengthen communication with people from diverse backgrounds using person-centred language.

4. Demonstrate empathy and understanding as a health coach and exercise professional.

“In order to make meaningful change to systemic inequities, we need to ensure everyone has equitable access to health and fitness resources,” said ACE president and chief science officer, Cedric Bryant.

“There are clear data about the health disparities among populations who are medically underserved. We hope this new course works toward ensuring all communities have the support they need to live healthy, balanced lives.”

“The fitness industry is just beginning the work of addressing its inequities,” said Goudeseune. “To that end, ACE aims for 20 per cent of exercise professionals and health coaches to take this course within its first year of availability.”

The course is free for ACE-certified professionals.