Some guidance with a new client who is/has suffered from anorexia
I have a new client that I just signed. She was referred to me via email and we agreed to meet face to face for the fitness assessment and the health history. She is very nice but she is 5’1 and weights 80 pounds. She is very thin and frail looking. She wants to do a lot of cardio and I do not feel that is the best way to go. I am open to any advise please. This is my first run in with this type of client and I still want to meet her needs but monitor her health safely.
Hi Kimberly,
you are dealing with an extremely difficult situation here and should not train with her without a physician’s consent. There are so many layers to this often deadly disease, and I would strongly suggest that you only train her as part of a health care continuum.
On the assumption that she has acknowledged to you that she has been anorexic, she may consider herself cured, yet her stated desire that she wants to do a lot of cardio makes me suspicious that she has only shifted her body distortion from one form of anorexia to another. As Ariadne says, you are also very likely to deal with somebody who has osteoporosis no matter what her age may be.
I know you want to help but do not forget that you are dealing with a mental illness which has the highest death rate of any mental illness. I am sure you have already done some research, and here is another article for you to study http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/anorexia-nervosa/features/anorexia-bo…. You would be taking on an enormous responsibility if you tried to deal with this by yourself.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com