Real or Sales Pitch? Health/Life coaches

The movement of “health/life coaching” is gaining some traction in health care circles.

Lets explore this phenomenon. Health/life coachs, among other duties, “help people clarify their health goals, and implement and sustain behaviors, lifestyles, and attitudes that are conducive to optimal health; guide people in their personal care and health-maintenance activities; and, assist people in reducing the negative impact made on their lives by chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.”

That sounds suspiciously like what primary care is supposed to do, but can’t within the current paradigm of the 15-minute office visit.

So, instead, people with no prior medical training are taking advantage, by signing up for courses over the internet and training to become a health coach. There is no fixed route to become a life/health coach, many people flock special coaching academies. Often these academies are often run by other life coaches, in what amounts to a pyramid scheme.

Some sites promise $121 an hour (“at least”), without having to leave home, and there are no worries about malpractice.Are you really going to trust someone that took a quick course, with no medical training, and no degree to tell you how to be healthier??


Imagine what those with an actual medical degree can do as a health coach. See a dietician, a nutritionist, or a real doctor. Normally people with out degrees or certifications are trying to sell you something, which make them money. I'd be very careful. I have heard of these self-proclaimed "health coaches" promise weightloss, cancer free, reduce free-radicals, blah blah blah....as long as you buy their products. Becareful because its all probably just a sales pitch.