Health Coaching and Chronic Illness
Updated: Sep 12
Health coaching is effective at supporting its clients to improve or reverse chronic health conditions. From a clinical perspective coaching “results in clinically relevant improvements in multiple biomarker risk factors (including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and cardiorespiratory fitness) in diverse populations.” according to just one recent study. Gordon NF, Salmon RD, Wright BS, Faircloth GC, Reid KS, Gordon TL. Clinical Effectiveness of Lifestyle Health Coaching: Case Study of an Evidence-Based Program. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;11(2):153-166. doi: 10.1177/1559827615592351. PMID: 30202328; PMCID: PMC6125027.
What does this mean for long-term health? Research shows that medical conditions successfully addressed by coaching include:
Cardiovascular Disease
Chronic Obstructive Lung / Pulmonary Disease (COLD/ COPD)
Dementia
Diabetes, pre-diabetes
Hypertension, high blood pressure
Insomnia, sleep
Medication Compliance
Obesity & Weight Loss
Peripheral Artery Disease
Match these conditions to the leading causes of death in Singapore (below) and we see where health coaching can play an effective role in public health:
Cancer
Ischaemic heart diseases (typically the result of coronary artery disease)
Pneumonia
Cerebrovascular diseases (including stroke)
Hypertensive diseases (including hypertensive heart disease)
External causes of morbidity and mortality
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome & nephrosis (kidney diseases)
Other heart diseases
Urinary tract infection
Diabetes Mellitus (type 2 diabetes)
Source: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/health-statistics/4/principal-causes-of-death
Addressing the Root Causes of Ill Health
Coaching is a process, its strength lies in being able to address modifiable behaviours personal to the client. Coaching supports the adoption and implementation of key healthy behaviours that many people struggle with by themselves in the long-term. For example:
the uptake of healthy diets and eating practices
regular physical activity (including cardiovascular and strength training)
improved weight management
risk avoidance (alcohol, smoking)
medication adherence
sleep improvement
stress reduction
work-life balance
mental, emotional and spiritual health, self-confidence
social connection
Note the holistic, whole person approach in the above list. This includes improving physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Coaching & Integrative Health
Health coaches can work alongside medical doctors, as part of an integrative healthcare system, or independently. A health coach does not replace a primary health practitioner, doctor or therapist. Once a suitable coach is found coaching can, however, successfully serve as a bridge between medical recommendations.
Many doctors advise "Eat healthily, exercise, lose weight and destress" and yet are only able to supply medication. Coaching takes the next step and supports the client with the creation or management of healthy lifestyle behaviours to address the root causes of ill health.
Health coaching is not a passive process. It requires the client to be ready to make and to adopt change.
Stay Healthy,
Alastair
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