are time poor and many
work places are toxic
environments. We live in a
culture that has popularised
processed sugar-laden,
nutritionless, ‘healthy foods’,
where super-sized meals
and liquid calories make up
large parts of diets, where
pre-school children are
obese and where you can
be overweight and have
diet malnutrition.
Gyms are often seen as
places of exclusion, sparking
images of slim fitness
models or muscular men,
with a lack of private
changing rooms, small
toilets, no chill-out areas for
participants to rest between
exercises, unsuitable
equipment, no low-impact
classes, over-sympathetic or
overzealous trainers. Heck I
couldn't even get in through
the turnstile! It is also difficult
for us fatties to find suitable,
or dare I say trendy, fitness
wear. Participants are left
feeling uncomfortable or
self-conscious.
10 FM
Evidence suggests
regular activity is related to
reduced incidences of many
chronic conditions. NICE
recommends health
professionals and public
health practitioners with
specific training should offer
a multitude of interventions
to help overweight and
obese patients prevent and
manage obesity.
‘
Talk about
weight
without being
offensive.
Don’t
generalise.
It is within this context that
the role of the exercise
professional has become
even more important as we
can provide much needed
www.exerciseregister.org
support. That could be for
people who are balancing
their weight with certain
medical conditions, leaving
them unable to lose weight
or improve their health
through dietary intervention.
Importantly, as professionals,
we must ensure we have the
correct skills to enable us to
train and support this
emerging client group.
There is a lot of advice
about how to train obese
clients. Much of it is based
on a flawed understanding
of this client group, as there
are many variables to
consider. To be successful,
a holistic approach is
needed.
For some, overeating and
maintaining their excess
weight is a defence system
where trauma has taken
place, and it is therefore
difficult to change.
Depending on the root
cause of the obesity and
your qualifications, this may
mean linking up with other
professionals.