Chances are, your members are looking to lose weight-and they’ll probably ask your staff for advice on how to do it. Here’s how to train your team to give nutrition advice to members.
When your members are with their trainers, you may be surprised by how much information they share. Many club personal trainers know as much about their clients’ personal lives as those clients’ best friends know-so it’s not really surprising that your members might turn to their trainers for advice on everything from dating to healthy eating. And while your trainers may not need your advice on dating, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re up-to-date on your club’s nutrition philosophy. Here are some practical ways to help your trainers give your members what they need.
Make a clear, club-wide nutrition policy. Even if your trainers are independent contractors, your club may ultimately be held responsible for what they tell your members. That’s a good thing when your members are bragging about their toned upper arms but a potentially bad thing if your trainers are giving out potentially problematic nutrition advice. Set a clear corporate policy about giving nutrition information to members, and hold your trainers and staff accountable for sticking to that policy. Note that the nutrition information your club can provide is mandated on a state-by-state basis, so you’ll need to check on your local regulations when making your policy. You may also want to do a little research to find out whether your trainers’ certifications allow them to provide certain kinds of nutritional information.
Steer clear of controversial diets. When your personal trainers are giving out nutrition advice, they should stick closely to the published USDA guidelines and avoid trendy eating plans. Fad diets can sometimes have powerful results for some people, and there are diet pills and supplements that can promote weight loss, but you don’t want to run the risk of giving a member information that could be potentially harmful. And the truth is, while fads and quick fixes can jump start weight loss, it’s a steady, healthy diet that maintains it-and it’s important for your members to understand that.
In general, keep it general. Unless they are certified to do so, your trainers should never give specific medical advice-including nutritional advice-to members. This is just plain smart, since it’s impossible for your trainer to have complete knowledge of any member’s health and medical history, and he could inadvertently recommend a course of action that could be harmful to the member in question. Better to keep things general and suggest the member ask his physician for more specific advice. Tell your trainers it’s great to encourage members to eat more fruits and vegetables and help them point members toward places where they can access more detailed information. (The USDA website is a great beginners’ resource for healthy eating tips.)
Keep them up-to-date. Continuing education can have a high price tag, but it also has benefits-including a more knowledgeable staff. Consider footing the bill or offering full or partial reimbursement for members who take classes in their field, including nutrition classes.
