The number of people suffering from metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity is on the rise worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2015 there will be 700 million obese adults in the world (almost twice as many as there were in 2005), and the number of deaths attributable to diabetes is expected to double between 2005 and 2030. As the incidence of these conditions continues to rise, it is important that exercise physiologists and fitness professionals understand these conditions and the role that exercise can play in managing them.

In Exercise Management for Metabolic Conditions, participants will learn to design safe exercise interventions for individuals with metabolic conditions. The online course first explains the pathology, diagnosis, and pathophysiology of the most common metabolic conditions—dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity—and the role of exercise in managing them. Exercise testing, exercise prescription, the possible risks associated with exercise, and the response of common medications to exercise are then explored. The course is supplemented by the text Clinical Exercise Physiology, Second Edition, by Jonathan Ehrman, PhD, FACSM; Paul Gordon, PhD, MPH, FACSM; Paul Visich, PhD, MPH; and Steven Keteyian, PhD, FACSM.

This course was developed by Dianne Littlechild and Bob Barnard of the Centre for Physical Activity in Ageing (CPAA), a specialized unit of the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, the rehabilitation campus of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia. CPAA is at the forefront of this field and brings extensive knowledge to the course.

Throughout this course, interactive exercises, including case studies, provide users with the chance to apply the knowledge to situations they will encounter in real-life practice. Quizzes allow them to test their comprehension of key topics as they progress through the course.

This course is part of the Exercise Management for Chronic Conditions series, a resource for professionals looking to enhance their knowledge on emerging topics and applications in the field. It is also a valuable tool for students studying for accreditation from Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) in the field of exercise physiology.

Units 1 and 2: Dyslipidemia

1. Explanation of Pathology


2. Treatment


3. Medications: Statins


4. Evidence for Physical Training


5. Exercise Testing


6. Exercise Prescription


7. Special Considerations


8. Case Study


9. Summary

Units 3 and 4: Hypertension

1. Explanation of Pathology


2. Evidence for Exercise


3. Exercise Testing


4. Exercise Prescription


5. Contraindications


6. Special Considerations


7. Medications


8. Case Study


9. Summary

Units 5 and 6: Diabetes

1. Explanation of Pathology


2. Diagnosis


3. Diabetic Complications


4. Diabetes Management and Treatment


5. Exercise Testing


6. Physical Training


7. Exercise Prescription


8. Exercise Considerations


9. Supervision and Monitoring


10. Case Study


11. Summary

Units 7 and 8: Obesity

1. Explanation of Pathology


2. Causes and Mechanisms


3. Treatment


4. Benefits of Weight Loss


5. Evidence for Physical Training


6. Exercise Testing


7. Exercise Prescription


8. Special Considerations


9. Case Study


10. Summary