Macro Coach Certification Macro Ethics, Professionalism, & Boundaries 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A macro coach discovers their client is sharing meal plan screenshots on social media and tagging the coach without permission. What is the most appropriate first response?
- Report the client to the certification board
- Contact the client privately to discuss consent and social media boundaries (Correct answer)
- Ignore it since it is free publicity
- Terminate the coaching relationship immediately
Correct answer: Contact the client privately to discuss consent and social media boundaries
Coaches should address boundary concerns directly and privately with the client before escalating.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the scope of practice for a certified macro coach in the US?
- Diagnosing nutrient deficiencies and prescribing supplements
- Providing individualized macro targets and general nutrition education (Correct answer)
- Prescribing therapeutic diets for medical conditions
- Ordering laboratory tests to assess client health status
Correct answer: Providing individualized macro targets and general nutrition education
Macro coaches are qualified to set macro targets and educate clients on nutrition principles, not to diagnose or prescribe.
Question 3: A client with a history of disordered eating asks their macro coach to set an aggressive caloric deficit. What should the coach do?
- Comply with the client's request since they are an adult
- Refer the client to a registered dietitian or therapist before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Set the deficit but monitor the client weekly
- Discontinue coaching without explanation
Correct answer: Refer the client to a registered dietitian or therapist before proceeding
Clients with disordered eating histories require specialized professional support that exceeds a macro coach's scope of practice.
Question 4: A macro coach is asked by a friend to provide the same services they offer paying clients for free. Which ethical principle is most relevant?
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Role clarity and dual relationships (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality
Correct answer: Role clarity and dual relationships
Coaching friends creates dual relationships that can blur professional boundaries and compromise objectivity.
Question 5: During a group coaching call, a coach inadvertently reveals a specific client's personal health data. What should the coach do immediately?
- Pretend it did not happen and move on
- Acknowledge the disclosure, apologize, and contact the affected client privately afterward (Correct answer)
- Ask the group to keep the information confidential
- Terminate the group program
Correct answer: Acknowledge the disclosure, apologize, and contact the affected client privately afterward
Transparent acknowledgment and direct follow-up with the affected client are the ethical standards for handling accidental disclosures.
Question 6: A macro coach is approached by a supplement company offering commissions to recommend their products to clients. What is the ethical course of action?
- Accept the commission without telling clients
- Decline all supplement-related conversations entirely
- Disclose the financial relationship to clients before making any recommendation (Correct answer)
- Only recommend the supplements to clients who ask about them
Correct answer: Disclose the financial relationship to clients before making any recommendation
Full disclosure of financial conflicts of interest is required to maintain client trust and professional integrity.
Macro Coach Certification Macro Ethics, Professionalism, & Boundaries 2
A macro coach discovers their client is sharing meal plan screenshots on social media and tagging the coach without permission.
What is the most appropriate first response?