– The education has not been the most important thing, but rather experience from work and interest, says Morten Olsen Dalhaug. He became known after participating in the TV program “Love Island”, and is today a well-known profile in social media. Dalhaug is a keen runner and often shares his training sessions on Snapchat and Instagram. He also sells running programs there. Dalhaug says he recommends that customers contact a personal trainer if they request services beyond his competence. Photo: Samuel Hafsahl – I kept getting questions about running. Then there was a runner following me who got in touch and thought I should start up, he says. Dalhaug has studied sports and worked in a shop that sells running equipment. He believes that several profiles offer training services because it is “in” to be physically active. – And then naturally those who feel they have experience and knowledge will share this. Has sold 10,000 running programs He is just one of many Norwegian influencers who sell training programs online. Some of them have training as personal trainers (PT). Hanna-Martine Slåttland Baller (25) from Sarpsborg has recently graduated PT and offers “online group coaching”. Hedvig Sophie Glestad (32) from Oslo is a trained PT and worked as one for several years before she became an influencer. Now she also offers services as an “online coach” in collaboration with a team with relevant education. Sara Høydahl (25) from Svelvik has recently started PT training. Pia Seeberg (35) from Drammen trained as PT in 2009, and worked on this full-time and part-time before she became an influencer. Now she offers a training program and follow-up via app. She says she is keen to continuously check the quality of what she offers. Amalie Olsen Gjersøe (25) from Revetal sells training programs online. The program has been prepared with a PT. Liva Børkja Ingebrigtsen also earns money from training content. In 2023, she signed up for a half marathon. Then her running-loving husband, Henrik Børkja Ingebrigtsen, made a running plan for her. He is Jakob Ingebrigsten’s brother, and European champion at 1500 meters. – I shared the journey on social media. Several people asked about the program. This is how the idea of making my own came about, explains Liva Bjørka Ingebrigtsen. Liva Børkja Ingebrigtsen has built a large profile in social media. On Snapchat, several thousand people see glimpses of her everyday life every day. Photo: Anne Marthe Widvey She has now sold almost 10,000 running programs, even though she herself is not trained in sports. – It has been important for me to have professionals in the team when I create the programmes, she emphasises. Researcher: – Can create body pressure Mathilde Hogsnes is a senior lecturer at Oslo Met and a PhD candidate at Kristiania. She researches the commercial influence of influencers. University lecturer Mathilde Hogsnes explains that a strong relationship can arise between influences and consequences. Photo: Jonatan A. Quintero / Kristiania She believes that more people feel a need to have a specialty, because the industry has become broader. – Certain influencers share information with a narrower focus. This allows us to be exposed to one way of living. It can create body pressure, and limits us from making informed choices from a wider range of information. Hogsnes says it is important that the influencers inform whether what they convey is professionally justified or a personal experience. – At the same time, we see in studies that the followers, regardless of whether it is professional or personal, consume it as factual information, because the balance of power is skewed and the relationship is so strong. Expert: – Problematic Jan Helgerud is a sports physiologist and professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU. – I want to fight for the subject, says professor and sports physiologist Jan Helgerud. Photo: Terje Trobe / NTNU Helgerud thinks it’s good that you get involved in training. But he believes that problems arise when explaining what needs to be done, and why. – If you say that something is good for your health, you must have health arguments. – It is not wrong that they get paid for working on training. But is it good public information that we should provide or is it sales? – I think it is generally problematic if people without education offer training guidance. They lack the expertise needed to ensure that the programs are safe and effective for everyone, says Christina Gjestvang. Christina Gjestvang believes professional knowledge should form the basis of what is communicated. Photo: Norwegian Sports Academy She is an associate professor at the Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian Sports Academy. Gjestvang is also the program manager for personal trainer annual studies. – Professional knowledge should be the basis for what you convey. It is important to communicate in a way that is understandable and inclusive. She emphasizes that a PT education does not necessarily provide sufficient competence to guide people with more complex health challenges. Want to spread the joy of running Morten Olsen Dalhaug believes all influencers should think about the consequences of the content they share. – Education has not been the most important thing, says Dalhaug. Photo: Private – But then you have a responsibility yourself not to follow those who demotivate you. No one is forcing you to follow anyone. He does not think influencers should hide training content to spare their followers. – It sounds like a disservice. Honesty usually lasts the longest and I think the followers appreciate it more. Liva Børkja Ingebrigtsen believes it can be overwhelming for followers to navigate. – Then it is perhaps easier to be inspired by an influencer that they can relate to. – It has been important for me to have professionals in the team, says Ingebrigtsen. Photo: Anne Marthe Widvey She says that she is careful about what she shares. – I train much more often than what I post, because I want to inspire in a balanced and positive way, without creating pressure. The most important thing for her is to spread the joy of running. – Most of what I share about running and training is based on personal experiences. I never make any professional claims without consulting experts. Title not protected – It can be positive if the influencers share content that promotes healthy and balanced attitudes to exercise, emphasizes Christina Gjestvang. But training content that is unvarnished or based on personal experience can create wrong expectations and misunderstandings, she believes. Several of the influencers who sell training programs have trained as personal trainers. – This can contribute to them gaining the right knowledge and competence. Several influencers use social media to document their everyday life. Photo: Juni Hoem / news PT education in Norway varies from course to college and university level. But PT is not a protected title. – It’s not the flu either. There is absolutely no guarantee, in terms of education, linked to the two, says Jan Helgerud. – I think most training centers require 60 credits, a year’s study. But I also think it’s thin. In other professions, a bachelor’s degree is often the basic education. Published 03.11.2024, at 07.59
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Liva Ingebrigtsen and Morten Dalhaug sell running programs – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
