ISSA Acquires Empowered Education, Bolstering Wellness & Nutrition Offerings

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), a leading fitness, nutrition and wellness education provider, has acquired Empowered Education, a functional nutrition, health and life coaching provider.

The newly acquired business is the parent company of the Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition Alliance, which will now become part of ISSA. The deal follows ISSA’s acquisition of the Functional Aging Institute continuum last year and several recently launched educational programs, such as one that serves military members and their families and yoga and wellness training.

ISSA says the move to acquire Empowered Education marks a significant milestone in the organization’s journey to inspire 100 million individuals to healthy living by 2030. Stacey Morgenstern, co-founder of the Health Coach Institute, agrees with the fitness and wellness education leader.

“Under ISSA’s leadership, both the Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition are poised to impact even more lives,” Morgenstern said. “What particularly stands out is ISSA’s collaborative ethos— forging ties with over 10,000 gyms and universities to ensure job placement to qualifying graduates. This is a game-changer and we are thrilled for the impact this partnership will have on helping millions of people live healthier, happier lives.”

Andrea Nakayama, founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance, says the acquisition will “supercharge” the platform with new learning experiences due to ISSA’s robust platform and the collective expertise of the two.

Expanded course offerings

ISSA’s acquisition of Empowered Education will result in an expanded range of courses with a student-centric approach and the addition of 36,000-plus members of the Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition Alliance to ISSA’s base of over 500,000 students.

Industry impact

By folding in Empowered Education, ISSA is ushering in a transformational period designed to significantly impact the industry, said Andrew Wyant, CEO and president of ISSA.

“Already the established industry leader in personal training certification, we will become the clear choice for health coaching, life coaching and functional nutrition, offering the industry’s most holistic view of health and fitness certifications,” Wyant said

ISSA was recently enlisted by Orangetheory Fitness to provide customized recruitment solutions and “up-skill” Orangetheory coaches as the boutique fitness brand looks to continue expanding.