Training History and Health Data: Why Separate Permissions Matter

The two kinds of data

Training history: exercises, sets, reps, weights, session dates, attendance. Health-related data: injuries, medical conditions, body measurements, sleep, heart rate, menstrual or hormonal notes if you track them.

A coach needs the first to programme sessions. They may need a small part of the second, for example "avoid overhead pressing, shoulder surgery last year". They rarely need all of it.

Why one switch is not enough

• Different purposes. Planning sessions and judging health are different jobs.
• Different harm if leaked. A deadlift number is low risk. A health condition can affect insurance, jobs and relationships.
• Different people. A gym front desk, a personal trainer and a physiotherapist should not all see the same things.

What good permissions look like

• Separate toggles for training logs, body measurements and notes.
• A clear label for each, in plain words.
• The ability to change them later without asking anyone.
• A way to see who currently has access.

What you can do today

1. List what you actually track.
2. Mark each item "needed to coach me" or "private".
3. Share the first list, keep the second.
4. Review every few months.

Where FitHit fits

FitHit has separate history-sharing and health-sharing settings, so the two can be handled differently. Check the sharing settings screen for the exact options available to you.

Examples

• Fine to share with a trainer: last month of workouts, current working weights, training days.
• Share only if relevant, and in your words: "knee pain on deep squats since June".
• Usually keep private: medical diagnoses, medication, lab results, body photos.
• Depends on the goal: body weight and measurements, which a fat-loss coach may use and a strength coach may not need.

Questions to ask any service

1. Can I share my training log without sharing health details?
2. If I turn health sharing off, what does the other person still see?
3. Is access logged, so I can see who looked?
4. Can I change this later without losing my data?

A service that cannot answer these may only offer all-or-nothing sharing, which is a reason to share less.

Key takeaways

• Training logs and health details are not equal in sensitivity.
• Share the minimum needed for the job.
• Review permissions regularly.

FAQ

Is body weight health data? It can be. Treat it as sensitive unless the trainer needs it.

Does a fitness app replace medical advice? No. See a doctor for medical questions.

Sources

• WHO 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour