PTC Nutrition for Personal Training 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many calories are in one gram of carbohydrate?
- 4 calories (Correct answer)
- 7 calories
- 9 calories
- 2 calories
Correct answer: 4 calories
Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram, the same as protein, while fat provides 9 calories per gram.
Question 2: Which macronutrient is the body's preferred fuel source during high-intensity exercise?
- Fat
- Protein
- Carbohydrate (Correct answer)
- Alcohol
Correct answer: Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates, stored as muscle glycogen and circulating blood glucose, are the preferred fuel during high-intensity exercise because they can be broken down rapidly for ATP production.
Question 3: As a personal trainer in the US, which of the following nutrition tasks falls WITHIN your scope of practice?
- Creating a therapeutic diet plan for a diabetic client
- Recommending specific supplement dosages
- Providing general nutrition education based on established dietary guidelines (Correct answer)
- Diagnosing a nutritional deficiency
Correct answer: Providing general nutrition education based on established dietary guidelines
Personal trainers may provide general nutrition education aligned with established guidelines (USDA MyPlate, DRIs), but medical nutrition therapy and clinical interventions require a registered dietitian.
Question 4: What is the general protein intake recommendation for individuals engaged in regular resistance training?
- 0.4–0.6 g/kg body weight
- 0.8 g/kg body weight (RDA)
- 1.4–2.0 g/kg body weight (Correct answer)
- 3.0–4.0 g/kg body weight
Correct answer: 1.4–2.0 g/kg body weight
Research supports protein intakes of 1.4–2.0 g/kg body weight per day for individuals engaged in regular resistance training to support muscle protein synthesis and recovery.
Question 5: Which vitamin is synthesized by the skin upon exposure to sunlight and supports bone health?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D is produced in the skin through ultraviolet B radiation exposure and plays a critical role in calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
Question 6: What does a negative energy balance mean?
- Consuming more calories than expended, leading to weight gain
- Consuming fewer calories than expended, leading to weight loss (Correct answer)
- Consuming equal calories to expenditure, maintaining weight
- Consuming only fat calories
Correct answer: Consuming fewer calories than expended, leading to weight loss
A negative energy balance occurs when caloric expenditure exceeds caloric intake, creating a deficit that causes the body to use stored energy (fat and glycogen), resulting in weight loss over time.
How many calories are in one gram of carbohydrate?