ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

A new client wants to lose 30 lb in 20 weeks. How many additional kcal does she need to expend through exercise?

1. 1000 kcal per week

2. 1750 kcal per week

3. 2750 kcal per week

4. 3500 kcal per week

The correct answer is: 1750 kcal per week

To achieve a weight loss of 30 pounds in 20 weeks, it's essential to understand the caloric deficit necessary to lose weight. One pound of body weight is generally considered equivalent to approximately 3,500 calories. Therefore, to lose 30 pounds, the client would need to create a total caloric deficit of 105,000 calories (30 pounds x 3,500 calories per pound). Next, to find the weekly caloric deficit required, we divide the total caloric deficit by the number of weeks: 105,000 calories ÷ 20 weeks = 5,250 calories per week. This figure represents the total weekly caloric deficit needed from both diet and exercise. If the new client intends to achieve some of this deficit through dietary changes and some through exercise, a practical approach is to determine the additional calories that must be burned through exercise alone. If we assume the client implements a reasonable dietary caloric reduction and sets aside some calories to be burned through exercise, we can estimate a portion of the deficit could be accomplished through physical activity. The option that proposes needing to expend 1,750 calories per week through exercise aligns with a balanced plan where the client also manages caloric intake effectively. This number takes into