Client Assessment and Program Design
What this domain tests
Client Assessment and Program Design tests intake and screening, dietary assessment, body-composition and readiness measures, energy-need estimation, macronutrient prescription, nutrition periodization around training, and progress monitoring. The exam expects safe, individualized decisions-not template diets.
Core rules
- Screen first: health history, PAR-Q+ or equivalent, medications, allergies, injuries, and medical clearance when indicated; obtain informed consent.
- Dietary assessment: 24-hour recall, food frequency, and multi-day logs each have bias; triangulate and look for patterns, not perfection.
- Energy needs: estimate resting metabolic rate, for example with Mifflin–St Jeor, apply an activity factor, then adjust by observed weight trend.
- Body composition: use consistent methods and trends; BMI alone misclassifies muscular clients.
- Macros: set protein first at about 1.2–2.0 g/kg, then fat at 20–35% of energy, then carbohydrate to fuel training.
- Periodize: higher carbohydrate around hard sessions; match intake to training and rest days.
- Reassess every 2–4 weeks and adjust based on adherence, performance, hunger, and trend data.
Worked example
A 35-year-old woman, 70 kg and 165 cm, wants fat loss. Mifflin–St Jeor: (10×70) + (6.25×165) − (5×35) − 161 = 1,395 kcal. Activity factor 1.55 = about 2,163 kcal. A 400 kcal deficit gives about 1,760 kcal. Protein at 1.8 g/kg = 126 g (504 kcal); fat at 30% = 528 kcal ÷ 9 = 59 g; carbohydrate = 1,760 − 504 − 528 = 728 kcal ÷ 4 = 182 g. Reasoning: preserve protein and resistance training, moderate the deficit, and adjust after two weeks based on trend.
Traps
- Using BMI as the sole assessment.
- Prescribing aggressive deficits that erode performance.
- Failing to update intake after weight loss.
- Ignoring training-day versus rest-day fueling.