Taking The Love of Fitness Into Academics: What Should You Study If You Are Passionate About Fitness?

Are you passionate about fitness and looking for a subject to study? Fitness freaks often make the mistake of thinking that their passion has to either be a sideshow or they have to go full Arnold Schwarzenegger and compete as a professional bodybuilder. However, mixing your love of fitness with academics is possible. 

Verified Market Research reports that the market size for health and fitness clubs globally was valued at around $91.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $169.7 billion by 2030. These organizations need qualified individuals to work for them and make their programs as scientific as possible. 

Here are five disciplines you can consider studying if you are passionate about fitness:

Kinesiology

Kinesiology is the scientific study of the human body and movement. It is a broad field that focuses on how our bodies move and grow and how that can be applied to help people with disabilities or injuries. Kinesiology graduates are involved in research, teaching, or clinical work with patients.

There are many benefits to studying kinesiology. First off, if you enjoy fitness already, his course will give you even more knowledge about it. Also, depending on what type of degree you have chosen to apply for, there are many career opportunities open to graduates.

These include personal trainers for gyms or sports teams, rehabilitation therapists, researchers who develop new equipment for athletes, occupational therapists who help injured workers return to work after an injury, and more. The best part is that you can apply for a kinesiology bachelor’s degree online. Therefore, you can study on your own time, along with your work.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a rewarding career choice for those who enjoy helping others. The job market is growing fast, and the pay is decent. However, you should know that a massage therapist isn’t the same as a regular masseuse. Massage therapists have to complete training programs that last 500+ hours, and they are considered allied healthcare workers. 

According to Mayo Clinic, massage therapy can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve blood circulation, help with chronic pain, lower heart rate, and help strengthen the immune system. 

The growth of massages as an area of study and practice has grown in recent years. Massage school is no longer reserved for the “alternative medicine” people. It’s learned by students from all walks of life who have found themselves drawn to this practice as a way to help heal others.

Biomechanics

Biomechanics is a branch of applied physics that studies how forces move through the body. It looks at how your muscles, joints, and bones interact to create movement. 

Biomechanics helps you understand why exercises work the way they do, which may be helpful if you’re trying to avoid injury. The study of biomechanics can also help you design better workouts for yourself so that you can get more out of less time spent exercising.

If this sounds like something up your alley, consider studying biomechanics in school. A bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or exercise science will give you a firm foundation in anatomy and physiology. Both are important aspects of the biomechanical study. You could also pursue an advanced degree in biomechanics by earning a master’s or doctorate degree from an institution with access to specialized equipment.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the study of food and its effects on the body. A nutritionist is a health professional who studies how diet affects health. The term “nutritionist” can be confusing because it’s also used to refer to a dietitian, even though the two are different. Dietitians generally require a higher level of qualification and are allowed to diagnose and treat diseases or provide individual counseling, whereas nutritionists aren’t. 

This distinction varies from state to state, but typically nutritionists work in a more generalized public health setting like nursing homes, school districts, sports organizations, and in some cases, government positions. If you wish to provide private counseling as a nutritionist, you can get certified as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and do so legally. 

NPR informs that 4 US states now have an obesity of 35% or higher. As obesity increases, the job of a nutritionist is expected to grow in demand very fast.

Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiology is the study of how the body reacts to physical activity. This can include anything from exercise physiology research to studying how the body adapts to a new training program, as well as how to prevent injuries and other health problems associated with exercise.

The best way to get into this field is through a Master’s degree program or doctorate degree program. It’s not uncommon for students in these programs to work on projects that involve researching various aspects of fitness and health, such as nutrition or fitness programming for older adults.

Exercise physiology is usually of two types. Sports and clinical. Sports physiologists are generally employed by fitness facilities or sports organizations and develop training regimens for athletes. Clinical physiologists work in healthcare settings and use exercise as a method of treating illnesses and injuries. 

The US Bureau of Labour Statistics informs that the job market for exercise physiologists is expected to grow at a rate of 9% from 2021-2031, which is much faster than the average of all other occupations. 

When you’re looking for a career that combines your passion for fitness with an education, there are many options. There are many different areas of study that may be suitable for someone with these interests, and it’s up to you to find what works best for you.