Under a personal trainer's scope of practice, what can they assist clients with?

Personal trainers are trained to provide clients with general nutrition guidance as part of their scope of practice. This typically involves offering advice on healthy eating patterns, food choices that support fitness goals, and helping clients understand the role of nutrition in overall health and wellness. Personal trainers can share general information about dietary habits that may lead to improved performance and better results in training, as long as they do not cross the line into medical or clinical nutrition advice.

The other options fall outside the standard scope of practice for personal trainers. For example, providing medical advice involves diagnosing or treating health issues, which personal trainers are not qualified to do. Similarly, recommending specific supplements can imply a level of medical knowledge and prescription that is not part of a trainer's expertise. Weight loss prescriptions can imply a clinical approach to weight management that requires the expertise of a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian. Hence, focusing on general nutrition guidance remains the appropriate and safe area for personal trainers to assist their clients.