What Does a Health Coach Do?

Coaching as a career goes beyond just helping athletes succeed—it’s about guiding individuals toward personal growth and achievement. As a health or nutrition coach, you’ll help clients set and reach goals related to their health, wellness, and lifestyle.

A coach isn’t just someone to cheer you on; a professional health coach educates, informs, and provides the tools necessary for realistic goal setting. You’ll measure progress, adjust goals when needed, and ultimately support clients in reaching their desired outcomes. If you're passionate about helping others make positive changes in their health and wellness, becoming a health coach could be the perfect path to make a real difference.

What Does a Health Coach Do for Clients?

If you're interested in becoming a health coach, you're looking at a career where you can help people improve their nutrition, health, and overall well-being. As a health coach, also known as a wellness coach or health and nutrition coach, you'll guide clients in making healthier food and lifestyle choices. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, you’ll work closely with individuals to understand their unique strengths, challenges, and personal goals, creating personalized plans that set them up for success. This role is about empowering others to make lasting changes that positively impact their lives.

Learn more: Coaches use different tactics when working with clients coming from a variety of health, nutrition, and fitness backgrounds.

Health Coaches Educate Clients

Coaches are teachers. They provide guidance, plans, structure, and motivation, but they also teach clients about health, wellness, and food. Rather than simply giving you a shopping list for the grocery store, a good health coach will teach clients how to shop and make smarter choices in the store. They will give tips and tools to help them succeed long after they stop using your services.

A Health Coach Finds Motivation

As a future health coach, it's important to recognize that clients may come to you with goals like losing weight or making healthier food choices. However, your role goes beyond simply providing a diet plan. A great health coach helps clients dig deeper to understand the underlying reasons for their desire to change.

This is essential because it’s these deeper motivations that fuel long-term success. Simply wanting to lose weight might not be enough to push through tough times, like when clients feel tempted to revert to old habits. By helping clients identify that their desire for weight loss is tied to personal goals—like improving their self-confidence or becoming healthier for their family—you empower them with the motivation to stay committed and overcome challenges.

Motivation is a huge tool for overcoming the roadblocks to making healthier choices. Coaches hear a variety of excuses and barriers from clients and need to know how to help clients move past them.

A Coach Provides Accountability

As a health coach, one of your key roles will be to help clients stay consistent and committed to their goals. If clients struggle with sticking to positive changes, you'll serve as their accountability partner. You'll check in regularly, track their progress, and provide the encouragement they need to push forward. On those tough days when they feel tempted to fall back into old habits, you'll be there—whether in person or over the phone—to help them get back on track. Your support and accountability will be essential in helping them stay motivated and make lasting, positive changes.

Health Coaches Guide and Empower Change

Your role is to be a guide for your clients, helping them make lasting, positive changes in their health. You’ll empower them through education, actively listening to their needs and challenges, and tailoring your approach to their unique circumstances. By providing guidance, accountability, and valuable advice, you’ll help them navigate obstacles and stay on track. If you’re passionate about supporting others in making healthier choices and overcoming barriers, becoming a coach will allow you to play a pivotal role in transforming lives.

What Are the Limitations of a Health Coach?

As a health coach, it's important to recognize the limits of your role. You are not a medical professional, which means you cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions, interpret test results, or recommend supplements. Additionally, health coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions.

While this may seem like a limitation, remember that your primary role is to provide motivation, guidance, accountability, and education. Your clients will still need their medical team for diagnosis and treatment, but as a health coach, you’ll be there to support them in making positive lifestyle changes and achieving their wellness goals.

What Does a Health Coach Do That is Different from a Personal Trainer?

The scope of practice of a health coach is very similar to what a personal trainer does for clients. The difference is that a trainer focuses on physical fitness, crafting workouts and helping clients set and achieve goals for weight loss or maintenance, muscle growth, strength, athletic achievements, or overall fitness.

Many personal trainers are knowledgeable about nutrition and general health and can provide some advice. If they do not hold a certification in nutrition or health coaching, though, they may not be the best person to guide one's wellness and dietary goals.

Health and Nutrition Coach vs. Nutritionist vs. Wellness Coach

There are a lot of professional titles that can be confusing. Understand the similarities and differences so that you know who will be best able to meet your needs. If you are considering a career in coaching, this can also help you determine the best course for your future.

Health, Nutrition, and Wellness Coaching

The entire coaching category should be considered distinct from nutritionists. What all coaches have in common is that they serve as guides, mentors, and educators. They help you set and meet goals, provide motivation, and push you as needed.

The distinctions between health, nutrition, and wellness are minimal:

• Nutrition coaching is, of course, focused on nutrition. If you struggle with finding the right foods to eat or feel that your diet could be better but you're not sure how, a nutrition coach provides focused guidance and expertise.

• A health coach can do the same, and generally does. They may also include more broad lifestyle habits, though. A health coach can guide your diet and nutrition changes but also help you shift other habits related to health: sleep, stress, exercise, and more.

• Again, a wellness coach provides much the same type of service as a health or nutrition coach, but they may expand the definition even further. Wellness coaching may include some aspects of life coaching, such as meeting career or personal goals that enhance your overall wellness. But often the terms wellness and health coach are used interchangeably.

Nutritionists

The term nutritionist refers to professionals with a distinct focus on food and healthy eating habits with less credentialing than dietitians. Dietitians have four-year degrees, or even more advanced, and have certifications or are registered. Sometimes, the term nutritionist is used interchangeably or as part of the same profession, for instance, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Always check your coach's certifications and scope of work to ensure they fit your needs. For example, a nutritionist cannot diagnose or treat a patient for a medical condition or act as a mental health counselor.

Training and Education

There are no official requirements for training or licensing for wellness, health, and nutrition coaches. To become a successful coach does require some training and education, though. Never work with a coach without some type of credential. They should be certified in nutrition or health coaching. Many may also be certified personal trainers.

Nutritionist training depends on the state and how this career is defined. In some places, the role is the same as a dietician, which means that the nutritionist has at least a four-year degree in health sciences, nutrition, or dietetics.

In states that require certification or licensing for nutritionists, these professionals can provide many of the same services dietitians do, such as prescribing diets. If you are looking for a nutritionist, insist on seeing credentials.

Clients Might Hire a Health Coach if...

All of this information can be a little confusing, but it comes down to a few important considerations. People might hire a health or nutrition coach if they:

• Need accountability and guidance in setting and meeting health goals

• Want to learn more about healthy diet and healthy lifestyle habits

• Would benefit from a motivating mentor to meet their health goals

• Want to make lasting changes to their lifestyle

Health coaches play an important role in many people's lives, providing mentorship, education, and guidance. Although their roles are limited compared to some similar professions, they provide valuable and unique services. If you're interested in helping people make positive changes, but can't afford four years of college, consider becoming a health coach.

How to Become a Certified Health Coach

Ready to become a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach? The Pathway program is your fast track to mastering advanced coaching techniques and unlocking the confidence to change lives. You’ll gain valuable tools while mastering coaching techniques like appreciative coaching, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness. Join our global community of over 36,000 students and experience a transformative personal growth journey, all while building a rewarding career in coaching. Enroll now and start making a difference!