In your gym facility, do you have more than personal trainers who can aid a member with their goal of weight management? Having a variety of services may add customer service opportunities and improve bottom line. I’m going to individually address a mix of personnel beyond the personal trainer norm, and how they can be beneficial to a gym facility. For today, I’ll be talking about the registered dietitian.
Registered dietitians (RD) are now optionally titled registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN). Compared to a nutritionist, RDNs have gone above and beyond to earn the registered credential. Some dietitians call themselves nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. Registered dietitians, according to eatright.org, have completed or passed: at least a bachelor’s degree, an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program, a national examination, and continued professional education requirements to maintain the registration. This isn’t to knock unregistered nutritionists — they too can be great assets to a holistic team.
Why hire a dietitian? I asked Leslie Stovall Guzman, RDN, located in North Carolina, to explain things deeper for me. “A registered dietitian nutritionist is a great investment for a gym,” she said. “As certified experts on food and nutrition, RDN’s can work with clients to match their nutrition with their fitness goals, whether those goals are muscle building, weight loss, or something in between. Also, dietitians are medical professionals, so they are trained to work around any existing medical conditions (diabetes, renal disease, etc.) their clients may bring to the table. Dietitians provide sound, evidence-based advice to promote wellness to virtually any population.”
She added: “Dietitians can also provide an added skill set and source of income to gym owners. Many are trained extensively in food safety, production and food service management. If, for example, a gym is interested in incorporating a smoothie bar, meal replacement program, or sell food-based supplements, a dietitian can help implement those goals and lend credibility to such a program.”
Remember, it is not in a personal trainer’s scope of practice to prescribe diets or recommend specific supplements. The American Council on Exercise talks about how it can be illegal to perform the work of a nutrition professional, without proper licensure. Having a holistic team allows your gym’s scope of practice to be larger, and allows your members to be better served
How could you use a dietitian?
Jamal Thruston is a certified personal trainer in Louisville, Ky., who specializes in weight management, behavioral change and health coaching. For questions, e-mail Jamal at jamalthruston@gmail.com.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
