The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has acquired the Dr Sears Wellness Institute (DSWI) for an undisclosed sum. DSWI will join ACE as part of a new division, ACE Health and Wellness. The move enables ACE to expand its health coaching certification and education offering.

Bob Hodgin, the former CEO and president of DSWI, has taken on the role of ACE health and wellness executive vice president. Hodgin will run the new division’s day-to-day business with ACE president and chief science officer Dr Cedric Bryant overseeing operations.

“We are proud to be joining forces with DSWI to grow the field of health coaching,” said Bryant. “DSWI has an outstanding reputation and is well respected in allied health and healthcare, where there is tremendous growth opportunity for lifestyle behaviour change education and training.”

Health coaches, personal trainers, group fitness instructors and certified medical specialists can get certified through non-profit ACE. According to ACE’s 2021 impact report, more than 8,000 health coaches have qualified through ACE with an estimated 2.4m appointments held with clients in 2021. Its Health Coach Advanced Training Programme is a 12-month, NCCA-accredited, course where participants must complete over 65 hours of work experience as well as coursework.

In line with its goal to “get people moving” and have a significant impact on the prevalence of inactivity-related diseases, the acquisition will grow ACE’s number of certified health coaches to more than 15,000.

The DSWI was founded in 2007 by doctor and author Dr William Sears. It offers health coach programmes for individuals and professionals. “DSWI is proud to join a mission-driven organisation like ACE who has been committed to health and wellness coaching for over twenty years,” said Hodgin. “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.”

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment market for health coaches – or health education specialists, as described by the organisation – is set to increase by 12 per cent by 2031 in the US. Demand for fitness trainers will be even greater, according to estimations, with the market growing 19 percent in the next eight years.