Macro Coach Certification Coaching Special Populations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the first trimester of pregnancy, a client's caloric needs compared to pre-pregnancy are:
- Increased by 500 kcal/day
- Increased by 300 kcal/day
- Essentially unchanged (Correct answer)
- Decreased by 200 kcal/day
Correct answer: Essentially unchanged
The first trimester requires no significant additional calories; increased needs of ~300–350 kcal/day emerge in the second and third trimesters.
Question 2: Which nutrient is most critical to emphasize in a pregnant client's macro plan to support fetal neural tube development?
- Vitamin C
- Folate (B9) (Correct answer)
- Zinc
- Vitamin E
Correct answer: Folate (B9)
Folate is essential for neural tube closure in early pregnancy and should be prioritized from conception through the first trimester.
Question 3: A postpartum client who is exclusively breastfeeding requires approximately how many additional calories per day above her pre-pregnancy maintenance?
- 100 kcal
- 300–500 kcal (Correct answer)
- 700–900 kcal
- No additional calories needed
Correct answer: 300–500 kcal
Breastfeeding increases caloric demand by approximately 300–500 kcal/day to support milk production while maintaining maternal health.
Question 4: When coaching a youth athlete (15 years old), which approach to protein intake is most appropriate?
- Adult bodybuilder protocols of 2.5g/kg
- No protein supplementation at all
- Moderate protein ~1.2–1.6g/kg with food-first emphasis (Correct answer)
- Protein cycling: high one day, very low the next
Correct answer: Moderate protein ~1.2–1.6g/kg with food-first emphasis
Youth athletes benefit from 1.2–1.6g/kg of protein through whole foods, supporting growth and athletic development without unnecessary excess.
Question 5: A teenage female client who plays competitive soccer shows signs of the Female Athlete Triad. Which three components define this condition?
- Dehydration, overtraining, and amenorrhea
- Low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone density (Correct answer)
- Iron deficiency, low protein, and fatigue
- Eating disorder, low testosterone, and stress fractures
Correct answer: Low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone density
The Female Athlete Triad consists of low energy availability (with or without an eating disorder), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density.
Question 6: For a child client (age 10) engaged in recreational sports, which macro coaching action falls outside a coach's scope of practice?
- Recommending adequate fruit and vegetable intake
- Encouraging consistent meal timing
- Diagnosing iron-deficiency anemia and prescribing supplements (Correct answer)
- Educating parents on whole-food protein sources
Correct answer: Diagnosing iron-deficiency anemia and prescribing supplements
Diagnosing medical conditions such as anemia is the exclusive domain of licensed medical professionals, not macro coaches.
Question 7: A pregnant client in her third trimester asks about creatine supplementation for energy. The coach should:
- Recommend 5g/day as it is safe for all populations
- Advise against it and defer the question to her OB/GYN (Correct answer)
- Increase the dose to account for fetal dilution
- Replace all protein intake with creatine supplements
Correct answer: Advise against it and defer the question to her OB/GYN
Evidence on creatine safety during pregnancy is insufficient, so coaches should defer supplement decisions to the client's obstetric provider.
Macro Coach Certification Coaching Special Populations 3
During the first trimester of pregnancy, a client's caloric needs compared to pre-pregnancy are: