Abstract
This study aimed to understand how personal trainers identify and manage disordered eating among their clients. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eleven UK based personal trainers to document their experiences of working with clients exhibiting symptoms of disordered eating. The interviews were recorded, fully transcribed and subjected to a thematic analysis. The findings suggest that personal trainers rely on external cues to identify disordered eating among clients such as changes to physical appearance, exercise behaviours and performance. The findings also revealed that personal trainers lack knowledge and hold misconceptions about disordered eating. Such misconceptions influenced their ability to identify and manage potential problems among their clients. Participants described the need for further education and guidelines to increase their knowledge and confidence in identifying and managing disordered eating among their clients. The findings from this study will be useful for professional bodies and practitioners in the development of guidelines and educational material for personal trainers.
Highlights
Disordered eating incorporates a range of problematic eating behaviours, attitudes and body image distortions including restrictive eating; fasting or skipping meals, the use of diet pills, laxatives and diuretics and engaging in binge-eating and/or purging behaviours (Nattiv et al, 2007)
The findings suggest that personal trainers rely on external cues to identify disordered eating among clients such as changes to physical appearance, exercise behaviours and performance
The findings revealed that personal trainers lack knowledge and hold misconceptions about disordered eating
Summary
Disordered eating incorporates a range of problematic eating behaviours, attitudes and body image distortions including restrictive eating; fasting or skipping meals, the use of diet pills, laxatives and diuretics and engaging in binge-eating and/or purging behaviours (Nattiv et al, 2007). It has been associated with a reduced quality of life across social, physical and psychological dimensions Personal trainers are in a prime position to identify symptoms of disordered eating, such as disturbances in eating and compulsive and rigid exercise behaviours (Manley, O’Brien, & Samuels, 2008). This is important as early identification and treatment of disordered eating is critical in promoting recovery (Lock, Le Grange, Agras, & Dare, 2001)
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