In this course, you will learn how to effectively connect and motivate your clients to achieve their nutrition and weight management objectives. As a fitness professional, it is essential to be able to evaluate client nutritional patterns. This involves understanding clients' current eating habits, any dietary restrictions or preferences, and their desired outcomes. It is also important to be able to provide nutritional guidance within an appropriate scope of practice. This involves understanding the limitations of your role as a fitness professional and providing evidence-based and appropriate nutritional guidance to help clients make informed decisions about their food choices. As a fitness professional, it is essential to be able to build rapport with clients. This course will help you learn how to establish a positive and trusting relationship with each client, understanding their needs and providing support and encouragement throughout their fitness journey. Additionally, the course will cover essentials on how to motivate clients to adopt long-term lifestyle changes. This involves providing support, encouragement, and guidance to help clients make sustainable changes to their eating and exercise habits. By motivating clients to adopt long-term lifestyle changes, you can help them achieve their goals and maintain their results over time.
Nutrition and Weight Management for Fitness Professionals
This course is part of NASM Personal Fitness Trainer Professional Certificate
Instructor: Casey DeJong
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Describe the principles of energy balance and the first law of thermodynamics and apply these concepts to weight management strategies.
Evaluate the role of macro- and micronutrients in body composition and overall health and assess their impact on energy levels and metabolism.
Analyze genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors contributing to weight gain and loss and practical weight management approaches.
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
25 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your Basic Science expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate from National Academy of Sports Medicine
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 5 modules in this course
Understanding the essential role of nutrition and dietary supplements is crucial for maintaining health and wellness. This week explores the impact of macronutrients and micronutrients on bodily functions, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet. It delves into the specifics of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as the vital contributions of vitamins, minerals, and water. Additionally, it examines dietary supplements, discussing their potential benefits in supporting optimal health and preventing deficiencies. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the aspiring fitness professional will be able to:
What's included
9 videos10 readings7 assignments3 plugins
The digestive system is vital for breaking down the food and liquids we consume, absorbing nutrients and energy, and eliminating waste. It consists of three main parts: the head and neck, the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and the lower GI tract, each playing a role in digestion and absorption. Organs like the gall bladder, liver, and pancreas produce enzymes and acids to aid digestion. Physical activity can enhance intestinal motility, supporting weight control. Effective weight management involves balancing calorie intake with energy expenditure, following the first law of thermodynamics. Understanding these processes helps in maintaining overall health and fitness. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the aspiring fitness professional will be able to:
What's included
6 videos6 readings5 assignments
Effective weight control requires a combination of practical dietary strategies and awareness of current eating patterns. Keeping a food record, reading nutritional information, and identifying mindless eating can help individuals understand their dietary habits and make necessary adjustments. Common high-calorie, low-nutritional value foods should be reduced or eliminated in favor of healthier options. Portion control is crucial, with methods such as using smaller plates and avoiding buffets being beneficial. Additionally, correctly reading food labels and making informed choices when dining out can significantly reduce calorie intake. Overall, understanding the balance between calories consumed and expended is key to successful long-term weight management. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the aspiring fitness professional will be able to:
What's included
7 videos6 readings7 assignments5 plugins
Understanding the complex relationship between body weight, body composition, and health is essential for effective weight management and disease prevention. Various diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, are significantly influenced by nutrition and body composition. Factors contributing to weight gain and loss encompass environmental, behavioral, and genetic influences. Physical activity plays a pivotal role in weight management, incorporating cardiorespiratory training, resistance training, and activities of daily living. Establishing a balance between calorie consumption and expenditure is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. Effective weight management strategies combine proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and awareness of the body's energy needs to promote overall health and prevent chronic diseases. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the aspiring fitness professional will be able to:
What's included
3 videos6 readings5 assignments4 plugins
The final quiz assesses your knowledge and ability to apply crucial nutrition science and exercise physiology components. Throughout the course, you explored macronutrients and micronutrients, the digestive system, the science of weight control, dietary strategies for weight management, eating disorders, and physical activity strategies. This quiz will test your grasp of these concepts and prepare you for practical applications in nutrition and personal training. The final peer-reviewed assignment aims to assess your practical skills in identifying and analyzing macronutrient sources, explaining their roles in the diet, and providing recommendations for optimizing nutrient balance to support weight management goals. By completing it, you will demonstrate your understanding of the roles and sources of macronutrients in the diet and your ability to evaluate dietary plans for specific fitness goals.
What's included
1 assignment1 peer review
Instructor
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Basic Science
National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Why people choose Coursera for their career
New to Basic Science? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.