May 2026: Operator Impact Overview: GLP-1 Workshop Delivery
Supporting operators to build confident, informed teams in response to the growing use of GLP-1 medications.
Supporting operators to build confident, informed teams in response to the growing use of GLP-1 medications.
Future Fit for Business developed its GLP-1 workshop series in response to the rapid rise in the use of GLP-1 medications across the UK and the growing need for fitness professionals to understand how to support individuals using these treatments.
Delivered in-person by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi – a specialist in GLP-1 medications and a recognised public health voice, regularly featured on ITV’s This Morning, the workshops were designed to translate complex clinical information into practical, applied knowledge for use within fitness and leisure environments.
In the first year of delivery, 579 professionals across 32 organisations have completed the training, including local authorities, leisure trusts and national operators. Workshops have been delivered to a wide range of teams, including fitness instructors, health and wellbeing staff, and exercise referral practitioners.
The programme focuses on enabling professionals to better understand the physiological impact of GLP-1 medications and to apply this knowledge in real-world settings, particularly when supporting individuals within community and leisure environments.
The increasing use of GLP-1 medications has introduced a new and complex challenge for the physical activity sector.
Operators are seeing a growing number of members using these medications, often without consistent medical guidance. Data from Oldham Active, for example, indicates that approximately 50% of its new health referral members are currently using GLP-1 medications, often having self-administered privately, without a GP prescription and with limited information. This is not an isolated picture; it reflects a broader trend playing out across leisure and community health settings nationally.
Despite this, there has been limited structured education available to support fitness professionals in understanding how to respond appropriately. Many staff reported uncertainty in how to approach conversations with members, particularly around safety, exercise planning and long-term behaviour change. The stakes are significant: without appropriate exercise, individuals using GLP-1 medications may lose up to two-thirds of their muscle mass, making the presence of an informed fitness professional critical to safe and effective outcomes.
This created a clear need for practical, evidence-informed training that could be applied directly within operational settings.
Workshops have been delivered across a diverse range of organisations, including leisure trusts, local authorities and national operators such as Active Leeds, GM Active, Serco, GLL, Everybody Health & Leisure, Oldham Active and Blackpool Council.
Sessions are led by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, ensuring clinical credibility while maintaining a practical focus. Delivery is designed to be interactive and discussion-led, allowing attendees to explore real-world scenarios and challenges.
Feedback from participants consistently highlights the clarity of delivery and the ability to translate complex subject matter into accessible, usable insight. Attendees have noted that the sessions are directly relevant to their day-to-day roles.
Across workshop delivery, participants report a clear shift in both knowledge and confidence. Prior to training, many professionals felt unsure how to approach conversations around GLP-1 use. Following the workshops, feedback indicates increased confidence in initiating informed, sensitive and non-judgemental discussions with members.
Participants have highlighted immediate application of learning, including supporting more informed conversations with clients, explaining the role of exercise alongside treatment, and addressing misinformation.
Feedback has been consistently strong. For example, attendees from Wigan Council rated the training highly, with five out of six participants scoring it 10 out of 10 and all indicating they would recommend it to others.
At 3-1-5 Health Club, GLP-1 knowledge has been embedded across both membership and fitness teams, leading to more consistent support, improved engagement with members, and stronger relationships built on trust.
3-1-5 Health Club
Following delivery, GLP-1 knowledge has been embedded across both membership and fitness teams. Staff report increased confidence in initiating informed and non-judgemental conversations, alongside improved engagement with members who may previously have felt hesitant to access gym environments.
Everybody Health & Leisure
Following training, Everybody Health & Leisure has introduced a dedicated exercise and nutrition programme for people on weight loss medications across Cheshire East, reflecting early translation of learning into structured service provision.
Serco
Training has informed the development of a more inclusive support offer, including bookable one-to-one sessions designed to support individuals using GLP-1 medications alongside other priority groups.
Oldham Active
GLP-1 training has been integrated into the organisation’s Exercise Referral programme, supporting a more informed and consistent approach to members using these medications within community health pathways.
These examples demonstrate early but tangible impact, with the programme contributing to how operators are adapting their services to support a growing and previously underserved cohort.
As delivery continues, Future Fit for Business is working with operators to strengthen impact tracking and capture more structured evidence of outcomes at both workforce and member level. GM Active has already confirmed a second workshop cohort for later this year, reflecting sustained demand and the ongoing relevance of the programme as GLP-1 medication use continues to grow across the UK.
Insights gathered through workshops, feedback and ongoing operator relationships continue to inform the development of the programme, ensuring it remains responsive to the evolving needs of the sector and the communities it serves.
GLP-1 medications are already present in your gyms, leisure centres and community health settings. The question is whether your team is equipped to respond with confidence.
Future Fit for Business delivers the Navigating GLP-1 for Sport and Physical Activity Professionals workshop as an in-person, organisation-wide training session, led by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi. Sessions are tailored to your team and can be delivered at a location of your choice.