How to choose a personal trainer in the UK

Ask what they are qualified in

“Personal trainer” is not one of the titles protected by law by the Health and Care Professions Council, the UK regulator whose protected titles include physiotherapist and dietitian. A common qualification is a Level 3 diploma in personal training.

CIMSPA, which describes itself as the sector’s professional development body, offers membership to personal trainers and has a professional directory. Ask which qualification your trainer holds and when they last renewed their first aid.

Check they are insured

Ask whether the trainer holds public liability and professional indemnity insurance for personal training, and what it covers.

Notice how they start

Before you lift anything, a careful trainer hands you a health questionnaire and asks about old injuries. Watch whether they check how you squat and bend before they choose a weight for you.

Be wary of promised results

Non-broadcast advertising in the UK follows the CAP Code. Its section on weight control says marketing must not claim that people can lose precise amounts of weight within a stated period (rule 13.9).

Rule 13.10 covers claims that a person has lost an exact amount of weight. Such a claim must be compatible with good medical and nutritional practice, must state the period involved and must not be based on unrepresentative experiences. For people who are normally overweight, the rule says losing more than 2 lbs (just under 1 kg) a week is unlikely to be compatible with that practice; for people who are obese, a faster rate in the early stages of dieting could be.

Rule 13.11 says advertising for intensive exercise programmes should encourage people to check with a doctor before starting. Advertising that promises a set amount of weight lost by a set date would go against rule 13.9.

Try a consultation first

Most trainers offer a short conversation before you commit. Use it to see whether you would enjoy their company every week.