Modern Health Problems

If you’re a personal trainer, take some time to reflect on why you became one. Maybe you really wanted to specialize in working with athletes. Or, perhaps you wanted to focus on correctional exercise training. Whatever the reason may have been… look at your clients now. Are you training top tier athletes?

I bet most of you aren’t… and I’m not saying this to kill the dream, just the opposite! The fitness industry needs more personal trainers who want to work with everyday individuals. The majority of the world is not filled with high-performance athletes. It’s just regular people wanting to live a healthier lifestyle.

The people walking into a 24 Hour Fitness looking for a trainer are usually the ones who are struggling with some kind of health problem. Sadly, these health problems are common nowadays. Personal trainers have the tools to change this. But first, you need to know about the most common health problems you’ll encounter as a personal trainer and what you can do.

Obesity

You’re eventually going to get a client who is either overweight or obese. Obesity is extremely common in America. There are more than 3 million cases of obesity per year in the US. It doesn’t stop there. Obesity usually leads to several other modern health problems like diabetes and poor cardiovascular health. When you encounter clients like this, they already know that their health is a problem. Your challenge as a personal trainer is to help them discover a better lifestyle that is not only healthier for them, but sustainable.

Other common health issues personal trainers will encounter:

Diabetes
Asthma
Arthritis
Cardiovascular disease

99% of the time, people with these health conditions need three things. They need help moving more, learning basic exercises and overall support. As you probably know, obesity can be treated with diet and exercise. Sounds easy, right? What most trainers don’t realize is that the mental aspect is the hardest obstacle clients usually face when they are extremely overweight. They know they should be eating better. They know they should be exercising regularly. But these things take discipline, consistency and effort. So, before you even start teaching them basic movements, it’s important to develop trust with your clients. Show them that you support their fitness journey and are here to help. When you create a trusted client-trainer relationship, they are more likely to be open to learning and experimenting with the tools you give them.

Encountering clients with modern health issues will be a journey. But as a personal trainer, you have the tools to help make a difference in their lifestyle.

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