What is a Health Coach?

The movement of "health coaching" is gaining some traction in health care circles, but what exactly is a Health Coach and what do they do?



Essentially, Health Coaches help people clarify their health goals, and help them to implement behaviors that are beneficial to their ongoing health. A Health Coach knows everything about diet and nutrition, about stress, exercise, supplements for women, hydration, recreation and much more. They hold their clients accountable, truly care about their success, and mentor each and every one of their clients with compassion, knowledge and professionalism. Health Coaches create dynamic partnerships with people who wish to adopt lifestyle changes that will help them reach their short and long-term goals of achieving optimal health.



Wikipedia, that place on the web that knows all there is to know puts it like this, "Health coaching is becoming recognized as a new way to help individuals "manage" their illnesses and conditions, especially those of a chronic nature. Health coaching is a method of guiding another to ‘discover’ and address their own ambivalence to health behavior change." The definition continues, "The relationship between the coach and coachee is an accountability partnership focused on the overall health outcome goals as defined by healthcare practitioners and the patient/coachee." Basically, Health Coaches are used to guide people in their personal care and health maintenance activities and are trained to orient their approach towards working with their client’s strengths when changing life-long behaviors.



Studies have shown that the likelihood for success for any endeavor is increased if someone with your well-being at heart is stationed by your side. In the case of a weight loss coach, having a supporter who has experienced similar struggles is essential for success – much like the theory behind Alcoholics Anonymous. Websites are popping up daily that promote the use of Heath Coaches to help others attain their maximum level of health and wellness, where coaches are being used for issues like weight loss to alleviate obesity-related medications and smoking cessation.



Your Health Coach should have had training and be certified by a recognized health organization and should first give you a complete health assessment to pinpoint your specific needs. She should then determine the best plan to help you successfully achieve your health goals. If you need to lose weight, your coach will help you determine which weight loss program best fits your needs and situation, since most any program will work… the trick is to find one that is easy to stick to based on your specific lifestyle.