Addressing the Issue of Diversity in the Fitness Industry

Randall Hunt served as CEO and president of Athletic Apex, a fitness organization with locations in several states. In addition, Randall Hunt originated Bionetics, a personal training program that utilizes scientific data to help individuals reach their peak. Recently, he spoke as part of a free webinar about the issue of diversity and race in the fitness industry.

Fitness centers are largely populated by white individuals and the owners of these businesses tend to cater to that demographic. One of the issues that have arisen pertains to diversity in the workforce of gyms. By hiring a more diverse workforce, a larger number of people from different ethnic backgrounds will feel more comfortable walking into the facility. Diverse hiring is a win-win situation since it has the potential of attracting more gym members.

As an African American, Hunt also believes that the black community is often more focused on sports than overall health. Gyms have a duty to teach the long-term benefits of exercise, which can encourage individuals to spend more time in fitness facilities rather than keeping their exercise reserved for fields and courts.