With obesity on the rise there is a growing demand for weight loss coaching in the United States and around the globe.
Have you considered weight loss coaching as a career?
If you’re a health coach looking to niche down as a weight loss coach, then this post is for you. Here we explore the ins and outs of weight loss coaching including:
- How to set health goals for your clients.
- What is the body mass index (BMI) and does it really matter?
- How does mindset coaching work in weight loss programs?
- How habit formation is key to living a healthier lifestyle.
What Is Weight Loss Coaching?
A weight loss coach is a health coach that specializes in helping people lose weight.
But there’s so much more to weight loss coaching than simply shedding pounds. Sustainable weight loss is achieved through changing someone’s relationship with food and fitness.
Weight loss coaches (like other health coaches) focus on helping people manage their chronic conditions through lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and exercising.
If you’re passionate about weight loss coaching then getting a health coaching credential is highly advantageous. Even if you’re a qualified healthcare professional such as a certified personal trainer, a registered dietitian, a nutritionist or a nurse practitioner.
There a loads of health coaching courses available online, each with their unique focus. In a previous article we reviewed and selected our top 6 health coaching certification programs. Here at the Primal Health Coach Institute we offer several health coaching certifications, including our award-winning Primal Health Coach Institute Certification.
Weight Loss Coaching: Why We Need More Coaches
Obesity is on the rise, and there is a growing number of people suffering from chronic illnesses related to being overweight.
Data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) Survey reveals that in the United States:
- Nearly 1 in 3 adults are overweight.
- More than 2 in 5 adults have obesity.
- Approximately 1 in 11 adults have severe obesity.
Why Is Weight Loss Important?
There are many serious health problems associated with being overweight and obese. These include chronic metabolic conditions such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Joint problems
- Liver disease
- Gallstones
- Some types of cancer
- Sleeping and breathing problems
The great news is that most (if not all) of these health problems are preventable and reversible through lifestyle change. That’s where weight loss coaching comes in.
Body Mass Index (BMI) What Does It Tell Us?
BMI is a standardized tool that healthcare professionals use to estimate and screen for individuals that have weight problems such as being:
- Underweight
- Overweight
- Obese
The BMI equation is calculated as follows:
BMI = weight (kilograms) / height (meters-squared)
Table: BMI of Adults Ages 20 and Older (adapted from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
BMI | Classification |
|---|---|
18.5 to 24.9 | Normal, or healthy, weight |
25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
30+ | Obesity |
40+ | Severe obesity |
BMI Limitations
Whilst BMI provides a starting point for investigating whether an individual is overweight. There are limitations to using it as a measure of health, and they are:
- BMI doesn’t take into account the location or the amount of body fat. Research has shown that people who have fat around the waist and surrounding the abdominal organs are more at risk of health problems than those with fat in other areas.
- BMI doesn’t take into account an individual’s body composition. For example, someone with a more muscular physique (such as an athlete) will be heavier than someone with less muscle mass and more body fat.
How to Deliver an Effective Weight Loss Coaching Program
The key to delivering an effective weight loss coaching program is to take a holistic approach. This means looking at a client’s lifestyle as a whole, and shaping your program around several key aspects of their life.
Here are our top tips to consider when putting together your weight loss coaching program:
- Personalized Coaching: Avoid re-hashing the same advice for each of your clients. Instead, consider their current weight, health concerns and lifestyle, and then tailor a program to their specific needs.
- Dietary Habits: Guide your clients towards healthy eating habits and meal planning. This will help your clients to make the right food choices for optimal health.
- Exercise Routines: Embracing movement and incorporating structured workout routines into their daily routine is essential for good health. Encourage your clients to enhance their daily physical activity, particularly through strength training.
- Lifestyle Interventions: Include any additional lifestyle changes that will promote healthier habits that are unique to their individual needs.
Weight Loss Coaching: Your 4-Step Guide to Coaching Success
Next we’re going to run-through the weight loss coaching frame-work that you can use with your clients. We’ve divided the process into four steps:
1. Initial Assessment and Goal Setting
The initial assessment is your chance to get to know your client and to extract important information that will shape the direction of their program. Key points will include:
- Current weight
- Dietary habits
- Lifestyle
From here, you can evaluate their health goals, and discuss what their desired weight is. You should have enough details from your initial assessment to create a personalized plan around your client’s needs and challenges.
2. Implementing Sustainable Changes
The next phase of the weight loss coaching process is to guide your clients towards sustainable changes.
Key coaching points should include:
- Guiding your clients towards a balanced diet.
- Emphasizing sustainable changes, rather than quick fixes like strict diets or yo-yo dieting.
- Provide tips to make gradual adjustments to eating habits, exercise routines and daily routines.
- Share healthy recipes.
- Coach through the pitfalls of emotional eating.
Helping your clients understanding the concepts that underly lasting weight loss will set them up for success.
3. Accountability and Support
Whether you work face-to-face with clients, or you provide 100 percent online coaching, accountability coaching strategies will provide the support your clients need to thrive.
Knowing that you have their back, plays a key role in building trust and rapport and strengthens the coach:client relationship.
Touching base with your clients regularly will make a difference to their progress. This support may include:
- Regular coaching sessions
- Weekly check-ins
- Email support
Regular check-ins will help your clients stay on track and they’ll be more likely to make significant improvements to their health and well-being.
4. Overcoming Challenges
Your role as a weight loss coach is to help your clients navigate through their challenges, such as binge eating, emotional health and low energy. The goal of this aspect of weight loss coaching is to help your client build a positive mindset around eating and allow them food freedom.
There may be aspects of your client’s journey that you as a health coach are not qualified to help with. When this happens, you can always refer your clients onto an allied healthcare professional such as a psychologist, registered dietitian, or a medical doctor, for areas of support that a health coach isn’t qualified to provide.
Final Thoughts
The key to being a fantastic weight loss coach is to help your clients achieve lasting results. Focus on sustainable changes, personalized support and providing a comprehensive approach, so your clients can reach their ultimate goal and maintain a healthier lifestyle long term.
Ready to start your new career as a weight loss coach? Then check out the health and fitness coaching courses on offer at the Primal Health Coach Institute.
