Practicing without a License

Though I have said this in my blog and on You Tube, it does not hurt to repeat it.

The only professional that is qualified to give specific caloric and nutrient advice to individuals is a registered/licensed dietitian.  RDs have specialized training that allows them to consider the multitude of factors that inform a persons metabolism.  Even these skilled professionals are making assumptions as there is no exact measure to capture the daily variances in energy expenditure.

I, even as a certified health education specialist cannot tell anyone how many calories they need in a day  (beyond referring to the Dietary Guidelines that suggest caloric limits generally starting at 1500 a day).  Your physician cannot tell you how many calories you need in a day, and most importantly your Personal Trainer cannot tell you.  Personal Trainers are not qualified to determine individual needs, not for calories, not for nutrients (i.e. they are not to prescribe supplements or eating plans).  Personal Trainers who do so can be sanctioned by the American Dietetic Association and legal action could follow. 

I say this to you today because two of my friends are using a personal trainer for some very high impact boot camp like training - 3x a week.  They told me tonight that the trainer had told them to consume about 1200 calories a day.  To which they both said to the other, "Oh my gosh, wait till we tell Deirdre."  Rather funny that they know me so well.  And of course, I was aghast.  In addition to the cardio/plyometric boot camp, these women are runners. They were doing intermediate to advanced weight training on their own before signing up for these classes.  In other words, they are both slim  - I am guessing their BMIs are about 18 and if they have any fat on their bodies it is just the amount needed for healthy functioning.  They easily burn upwards of 2000 calories a day - and not more only because they are small. 

I cannot begin to image what that man was thinking.  If he does have overweight clients and wants to convince them that his training program will melt off pounds, yes, telling them to eat 1200 cals a day would do it.  It is not only out of his jurisdiction - but the recommendation is reckless.  My friends of course knew not to listen.