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The AFP market: AFAA fitness practitioners will be able to forge exciting career opportunities while serving the needs of a changing health care system

American Fitness, Jan-Feb, 1994

Neil Sol, Ph.D., a respected visionary in the health promotion industry, reflects upon the direction and value of the AFP in America's health care future. Sol is chairperson of the AFP Advisory Committee, president of Houston's Health Vantage, Inc., former president of the Association for Worksite Health Promotion and author of Presidential Sports Award Manual.

American Fitness: Why is there a need for AFPs?

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Neil Sol: All the changes in health care reform today point to the fact that people will have to be responsible for their own health. There is a strong indication they will embrace the recommendation to become responsible. However, they will find there is a lack of know-how in terms of getting fit and staying healthy, so they will have to solicit leadership. People will have to find those professionals, facilities and institutions that have the know-how. AFPs will be able to assume a leadership role in getting people to enhance their health.

AF: We know that AFPs could improve fitness levels, but is there any reason to believe AFPs could actually impact functional age and overall health?

NS: People have two ages: a chronological age--how long they have lived, and a physiological age--their functional capacity. We've all seen people who are 80 and function as though they are 50 and people who are 50 and function as though they are 80. Current research literature suggests people at any age can improve functional capacity and have it equal to people who are chronologically younger. This greatly enhances both the quality of life and basic health.

AF: Do you have personal experience of this?

NS: (laughs) Yes! I have a partner who is 51 years old, and he functions as if he's younger than me because of his fantastic nutrition and exercise routine. But I've also seen dozens of cases of this through my years in the health and fitness field.

AF: How do you envision AFPs in the marketplace?

NS: As the U.S. moves toward a managed care health situation, all these managed care providers will need to emphasize the health maintenance part of care, not just the sick care aspect. Managed care providers will be interested in having their subscribers maximize their health as clinical care grows more costly. As a result, insurance companies might be motivated to work with AFAA so their subscribers can be directed to geographically distributed AFPs. This can be a win-win situation for everybody: AFPs, clients, HMOs and physician providers.

AF: How would the physician and the AFP interface?

NS: The medical physician who realizes the preventive arena is important to the continuum of care will have the advantage. Physicians are beginning to realize the importance of prevention, but they haven't been able to emphasize it. They have expertise in prevention but have just not practiced it because they've been focused on sick care. As a result, they're going to need to create joint venture partnerships, and take the AFP into their office and deal with people in both primary and secondary prevention situations.

AF: Would fitness facilities and private clubs be able to hire AFPs?

NS: Clubs should be the preventive health resource center in the community, and lead the way. And again, this is another opportunity for the AFP. There is also the possibility of AFPs setting up shop themselves. In the America to come, people are going to want to find leaders and the personal training boom is indicative of that. People will pay significant amounts of money to look better and stay healthy. It may well be that in addition to doctors, clubs and HMOs, there is a private practice opportunity for AFPs down the road.

The AFP market: AFAA fitness practitioners will be able to forge exciting career opportunities while serving the needs of a changing health care system

American Fitness, Jan-Feb, 1994

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