What if your gym could be the first line of defense against chronic disease? In this insightful episode of the Fitness Business Podcast, host Justin 'JT' Tamsett discusses the concept of 'Exercise is Medicine' with expert Lisa Dougherty, who has 27+ years of experience in the field. They explore the significant impact of physical inactivity on global health and the economy, emphasizing the crucial role of tailored exercise in combating chronic diseases. Lisa shares her journey and the evolution of specialized fitness training for various medical conditions. They also discuss best practices for gyms and trainers, the importance of advanced education, and how gyms can build respect within the healthcare continuum. The episode finishes with details on Lisa's upcoming virtual global medical fitness conference, bringing together a wealth of knowledge and expertise for fitness professionals worldwide.
Key highlights from the episode:
- A global health wake-up call: Why inactivity is projected to cost $314–$446 billion annually by 2050 and how gyms can position themselves as part of the healthcare solution.
- Best practices for “exercise as medicine” programs: Education requirements, record-keeping, safety protocols, and emotional intelligence as core skills.
- Business opportunities in medical fitness: How specializing in chronic condition populations can set you apart from competitors and create long-term client loyalty.
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Quotes:
“It is crucial for fitness and allied healthcare professionals working with the aging population to have this higher level of knowledge, skill, and expertise.” - Lisa Dougherty
“I started the MFN to improve the quality of life of the many millions of people with chronic disease and medical conditions.” - Lisa Dougherty
“The fitness industry still targets the’ nearly fit’. Which is, you know, 15% of the population, and those are the shark infested waters. And 85% of the rest of the population has obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cancer…it's a scroll of diseases.” - Lisa Dougherty
Resources:
- Become an FBP Insider on Patreon: https://patreon.com/FitnessBusinessPodcast
- Fitness Business Podcast’s LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9878228/
- Mystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses: https://mysteryshoppingforfitnessbusinesses.com.au/
Our Guest:
Lisa Dougherty, Medical Fitness Expert
Website: https://www.MedFitFoundation.Org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisadougherty1/
Event:
2025 Virtual Global Medical Fitness Conference: https://www.fbasucceed.com/medfit
Use the Code: FITBIZ to save 25% (case sensitive!)
Sponsor’s Pitch:
Clint Aragona
Max Members AI
Website: https://www.maxmembers.ai/
Email:clint@maxmembers.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clinten-aragona-470123290/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxmembers
Merch Sponsor:
ROGUE - https://www.roguefitness.com/
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