The ICHWC (International Consortium for Health & Wellness Coaching) sets certain standards and guidelines for health and wellness coaches. While a Registered Dietitian (RD) who has passed the RD exam and earned the NBC-HWC (National Board Certified - Health & Wellness Coach) certification has expertise in nutrition and health, it's essential to understand that health and wellness coaching is a distinct field with its own scope of practice.
Designing a HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) program typically falls within the scope of a fitness professional or a certified personal trainer rather than a health and wellness coach. Health and wellness coaches primarily focus on helping clients set and achieve health and wellness-related goals, provide support, and facilitate behavior change.
If the RD/NBC-HWC is not also certified as a fitness professional or personal trainer, it may be outside their recognized scope of practice to design and prescribe exercise programs like HIIT. It's important for individuals to operate within their areas of expertise and adhere to the guidelines and standards set by their respective certifications and professional organizations.
In such cases, if the client's goal involves exercise programming like HIIT, it might be more appropriate to refer the client to a certified fitness professional or personal trainer who specializes in exercise prescription. This way, the client can receive comprehensive and safe guidance that aligns with their specific fitness needs.