Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit Exercise as Medicine: Lisa Dougherty on Turning Gyms into Preventive Care Centers & Fighting Chronic Disease: Episode 547
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
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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!)
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About Our Guest: Lisa Dougherty has been in the medical fitness space for over 25 years. She founded the MedFit Network in 2013, which serves as both a professional membership organization and a free online resource directory. She established the MedFit Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization, in 2017 to elevate the quality and quantity of available education for fitness and allied healthcare through educational webinars, online courses, and virtual conferences. Lisa has been recognized as a fitness leader on multiple occasions, including by Personal Fitness Professional Magazine and The Huffington Post. The White House acknowledged her as a “Champion of Change”.
About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a fitness industry veteran with over 30 years of experience who aims to reduce global healthcare costs by promoting physical activity. Through his company Active Management, he provides business coaching to fitness entrepreneurs, leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, and has spoken at over 40 conferences across 23 countries. His ultimate goal is to create a world of opportunity for his daughter Zoe by helping more people move and stay healthy, while empowering gym owners to build successful businesses that contribute to a healthier society
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