Age is 42, non-smoker, blood pressure is 139/92, glucose level is 93, and her total cholesterol is 200. She has not exercised co
Age is 42, non-smoker, blood pressure is 139/92, glucose level is 93, and her total cholesterol is 200. She has not exercised consistently for 2 years and would like to lose 20lbs. She is not a fan of running, but can do it, and she has never done resistance training besides in a group exercise class. She would like to run a 5k in the next year with friends. She does not know her current body fat, but had it checked a year ago when she wanted to start a plan and it was 26% (she didn’t follow through with plan). She does not have any known cardiovascular diseases or family history of them. Should a fitness trainer require physician clearance, before starting an exercise program?
Hi Marsha,
Although she would appear to be borderline in several areas, she still appears to have at least 3 risk factors in play for CAD, which are high total Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and a Sedentary lifestyle. Possibly a fourth for her weight. For this reason, while I think it’s OK to begin a low to moderate intensity program (< 60% capacity), she should be referred to a physician for clearance for a higher intensity program (>= 60% capacity). Good Luck!
I would add to the above recommendations/suggestions that since her goal is to run a 5k next year, doing outdoor activities/exercising might be good place to start at. She doesn’t look like she will need a physician’s clearance from the information you have provided and incorporating a program that cardio is the main theme would be an excellent way to go .
Great advice so far. I especially like Christine’s suggestion of getting a PAR-Q and current data. Data from a year ago (BMI) could be way off. Also, what is her current weight?
And finally, what is her commitment level towards training, and potentially changing her eating habits to contribute to weight loss.
