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!
