What to Know Before Building a Weight Loss Program for an Obese Client

Recent data shows more than one-third of U.S. adults are considered obese. To help combat this growing epidemic, many individuals seek out weight loss programs at their local gym or through their workplace as part of their benefits package. But how can you know if your client is a good candidate for one without being able to see them face-to-face? Here are a few things you should know before building a weight loss program for an obese client.

Basics of Weight Loss Programs

Weight loss programs are built around a set of guidelines that help encourage weight loss. Programs can vary greatly depending on the program provider, and they may include everything from meal and exercise plans to one-on-one coaching. Ideally, a weight loss program will help someone lose between one and two pounds per week. More than that and there is a risk of your client losing muscle, which could actually slow down their metabolism and cause them to gain weight in the long run. Weight loss programs can vary greatly depending on the program provider, and they may include everything from meal and exercise plans to one-on-one coaching. Ideally, a weight loss program will help someone lose between one and two pounds per week. More than that and there is a risk of your client losing muscle, which could actually slow down their metabolism and cause them to gain weight in the long run.

Exercise Isn’t Enough

If you’re building a weight loss program for an obese client, exercise alone will most likely not be enough to help them lose weight. According to research, exercise alone can only help obese individuals lose, on average, two pounds per year. One reason exercise alone isn’t enough is because many obese clients are either inactive or they are engaging in high-intensity exercise, which means they are burning mostly fat calories. As soon as they stop exercising, their body will start burning carbohydrates for energy.

Body Composition Analysis is Key

Before you begin building a weight loss program for an obese client, you’ll want to do a body composition analysis to determine what the client’s body fat percentage is. Ideally, you want to help your client achieve a body fat percentage of 15% or below. To do this, you can either use skin calipers to manually measure their body fat percentage or use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure their body fat percentage. Although BIA isn’t as accurate as manual measurements, it can still be very useful as long as you know how to interpret the data correctly.

Determine Caloric Requirements and Macros

Once you know your client’s body fat percentage, you can then determine how many calories they should be consuming each day. You can do this using a calorie calculator such as the one offered by the CDC. However, keep in mind that these calculators are a general estimate and not an exact science. You’ll want to factor in your client’s activity level and other relevant information. You’ll also want to determine their macronutrient breakdown. Ideally, your client’s diet should be made up of 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 20% fat. If your client is obese and has a metabolic disorder such as type 2 diabetes, you’ll definitely want to work with a doctor to determine their caloric requirements before moving forward with your weight loss program.

Conclusions

Building a weight loss program for an obese client can be challenging, but it can be done. To begin, you’ll want to measure your client’s body composition and caloric requirements before building a diet and exercise plan. Once you have those details, you can then begin to help your client lose weight. Depending on how overweight your client is, this process can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. You’ll want to make sure to track your client’s progress along the way and be sure to adjust their diet and exercise plan accordingly based on how their body changes. That way, your client can achieve their weight loss goals while maintaining their health and keeping the pounds off for good.