Japan consumer safety watchdog probes personal training

TOKYO - A spate of bone fractures and health problems resulting from personal training where one-on-one exercise and diet guidance is provided by trainers has sparked a probe by Japan's consumer safety watchdog.

The Consumer Affairs Agency's Consumer Safety Investigation Commission has announced it has launched investigations to investigate reported accidents and compile measures to prevent recurring occurrences in its investigation.

However, trainers are not legally bound to hold certifications, and the quality of service comes down to the trainer's qualifications.

In the five years since fiscal 2017, there were 105 consultations about injuries or illness resulting from personal training, 90 percent of which were from women. One woman in her 30s broke her lumbar spine during training that gradually increased the weight of the barbell she was lifting. She was also given insufficient dietary guidance, being told to eat only carbohydrates.