This is a case study of Marsha, a 51 year old woman who is interested in weight loss and is in search of a program. She has inquired about purchasing a membership to my fitness facility. It is my duty to evaluate her present health and fitness level to determine the appropriate steps to take, to help her reach her goal.
The results of the initial par-q screening (physical activity readiness questionnaire) revealed valuable information about her that can guide us to creating a program that is appropriate for her needs.(Howley, p.23-24) She is 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall. She weighs 240 pounds (109 kg). Her blood pressure is 152/88 mmHg. Her lifestyle is sedentary, having never had a regular exercise routine. She sits at a desk job. She does not have any leisure activities. She has not had a physical exam from the doctor in three years. There is a family history of heart disease and diabetes.
Marsha’s BMI is calculated to be 40.4. This is considered to be extremely obese. (CDC, Assessing Your Weight, np) Her blood pressure is high. She is inactive, has a strong family history of diabetes and heart disease. She has not been to the doctor for an exam in three years. She needs to go to the doctor to get a complete physical and medical clearance before she can start a program. The exam will determine the safety of moderate to vigorous exercise as part of her weight loss program. Assessment of her cardiovascular health can be done using a treadmill or cycle ergometer. (Howley, p.78) Standardized tests for strength and flexibility need to be done as well.
The nutritionists at our fitness center can evaluate Marsha’s diet and preferences. Her daily energy requirements are 2,480 calories per day. She should target to take in approximately 750 fewer calories than that in order to sustain healthy weight loss. The nutritionist can work with her regularly to create menu plans and strategies to help her make healthy food choices, get her essential nutrients and sustain a caloric intake of 1730 K-calories per day. (mytcm.com, np)
Marsha came to the fitness center of her own free will. This shows that she is mentally prepared to make a change. We need to talk with her to determine her interests and to help her set realistic goals. Her trainers will need to pay attention to her level of enthusiasm in order to ensure she is able to adhere to the activities recommended. We need to encourage her to increase lifestyle activity and create a structured workout program. If she is willing to come into the gym for one hour of structured exercise, three days per week and find ways to be more active in her daily activities, she can loose a couple of pounds per week. Walking with a partner would be a great thing for her to do every day. As she progresses, she could increase her frequency and duration of her structured workouts. (CDC, Physical Activity for Everyone, np)
It is important to keep Marsha motivated so that she will be successful. We will work with her to develop a program that she will enjoy. We will help her understand the risks of being overweight and to reap the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. We will implement a reward system for reaching short term goals. We can give her coupons to boutiques to go shopping for new clothes as she moves down in dress sizes. We could also offer her membership incentives for recruiting friends.
Regular physical activity is key to achieving good health and a healthy weight. With a thorough initial consultation and medical examination, ongoing support, and motivation, we will be able to help Marsha reach her goals.
References
Howley, Edward & Franks, Don. (2007), Fitness Professional’s Handbook, Fifth Edition, Human Kinetics, Champaign IL
My TCM website, retrieved July 25, 2010, Copyright © 2010 - myTCM.com.au, myTCM.com.au, University of Sydney, Australia
Physical activity for a healthy weight, retrieved from CDC website
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