Health Coach Mission: Dr. Sears Wellness Institute Acquired by the American Council on Exercise
ACE will increase its active certified health coach workforce to over 15,000 as a result of the acquisition
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a health and fitness nonprofit, has acquired Dr. Sears Wellness Institute (DSWI). The acquisition marks the expansion of ACE’s health coaching education and training and has led to the creation of a new division, ACE Health and Wellness.
San Diego-based ACE became recognized as an education provider by the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching last year. With the recent acquisition, ACE will increase its active certified health coach workforce from 8,000 to more than 15,000 people.
“DSWI is proud to join a mission-driven organization like ACE who has been committed to health and wellness coaching for over twenty years,” said Bob Hodgin, President and CEO, Dr. Sears Wellness Institute. “The expertise and breadth of resources that will now be available to both our DSWI and ACE health and wellness coaches is unparalleled in this growing industry.”
Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. FACSM, ACE President and Chief Science Officer, remarked that there is a substantial growth opportunity for lifestyle behavior change education and training. “Through our acquisition of DSWI, ACE is gaining a robust team of experts positioned to offer the best available support to current and future health and wellness coaches,” Bryant said.
Dr. Bryant will be in charge of the new division, with Hodgin serving as the ACE Health & Wellness Executive Vice President. “We are excited to begin our journey, and together work to create the leading health and wellness coaching education and training available,” he continued.
ACE points to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s essential behaviors for preventing chronic disease and an alarming statistic that only 6.3 percent of Americans engage in the five healthy behaviors.
Being a non-smoker, engaging in regular physical activity, consuming moderate amounts of alcohol or none at all, maintaining a healthy body weight, and getting enough sleep each night are five examples of such behaviors, according to the CDC. Health coaches can assist in guiding individuals to make positive lifestyle changes, and the acquisition will ensure that coaches will receive quality education.
“I am very pleased that DSWI is becoming part of the ACE family,” said Dr. William Sears, co-founder of DSWI. “The synergy between our health-coaching missions is just what our world needs.”
Featured image is of CityCenter Englewood. DSWI is headquartered at 8310 S Valley Highway, Englewood, CO. Public domain image.
