Weight loss coaching

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coaches[1] have expertise in their preferred area of study. Weight loss coaching[2] uses personal coaching techniques to bring about long term weight loss. Based upon the relationship between weight and attitude and the mind body relationship, coaching is an holistic approach.

Early Days[]

The term "coaching" dates back to 1830. It's believed that the word was used as slang for "tutor[3]". Through the 1900's, coaching evolved into many different things.[4]

For a long time it has been recognized that attitude can have an impact upon the maintenance of a healthy weight. In 1978 Susie Orbach[5] published her book “Fat is a Feminist Issue” one of the first texts to highlight the relationship between behavior, culture and weight gain. In her book Susie looks at how food becomes associated with love, comfort and nurture and how this can manifest in over eating behaviors. This was the start of an acceptance that the calories in = calories out equation may have been an oversimplification and that diets were not a long-term solution.

Methods

Coaches use many techniques. Borrowing the concept of modelling from NLP, a weight loss coach will identify the behaviors associated with those of normal weight individuals and help the overweight individual to adopt many of these behaviors for themselves. The process will involve establishing which of the behaviors will serve the individual best and how to make it easier to follow such helpful behaviors.

A coach will also work with the individual to establish what their original beliefs, values and behaviors associated with food and their diet are. These can be explored with a view to adopting adaptations of these beliefs and behaviors that will be of benefit to the individual, whilst losing those that are not beneficial. The coach can also help to keep the individual in touch with their desire to lose weight.

A coach will also help the individual to set realistic goals for weight loss and develop a plan to attain the goals. This plan can include actions, research and education. This is not a menu plan or diet. The plan is also driven by the individual, so it is tailored to them and not a generic plan. The coach will help to consolidate all the ideas of the individual into steps which take them towards losing weight. This is often the part we struggle with.

The coach does not tell the individual what to eat and how. That is for the individual to determine once they have developed their plan.

Coaches chose to work in a variety of methods. The most common is one-to-one coaching, either by telephone or face to face. Some coaches work in groups running classes and workshops. Less common is e-coaching, which is working via email, webinars and instant messaging. Some coaches are beginning to launch on line courses, where email support and exercises are given to the individual for them to work on in their own time.

Not Just Food[]

Weight loss coaching recognizes that it is not just food that leads to weight gain. Exercise has long been associated with weight management[6] but less known associations like sleep[7] particularly in teenagers, and stress[8] have also been shown to affect the body's ability to lose weight.

These areas are beginning to be incorporated into weight loss coaching and will probably begin to figure more.

Research[]

Interactive health coaching interventions have been studied for their effect on weight loss in obese adult employees and has shown to be effective.[9] E-coaching for weight loss has also been studied and has been shown to be effective.[10] Findings from a 2014 systematic review suggest counseling, either in-person or by phone, by trained medical interventionists may also be effective in inducing weight loss in patients.[11] Weight loss and malnutrition in COVID-19 patients found connected in the research.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ creativeresultsmanagement (2016-07-11). "What It Really Means To Be A Coach". Keith Webb. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  2. ^ "What is Weight Loss Coaching? - Doctormome". 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  3. ^ "tutor", The Free Dictionary, retrieved 2022-02-11
  4. ^ "History of Coaching - A True Insight into Coaching". RapidBI. 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  5. ^ "Why Fat is Still a Feminist Issue". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009.
  6. ^ Przybylski, Jacek (2020-04-30). "Najlepsze ćwiczenia na odchudzanie potwierdzone naukowo". DIETETYK (in Polish). Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  7. ^ "Less sleep may add up to more pounds in adolescents". Science Daily. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Social isolation, stress-induced obesity increases breast cancer risk in mice". Science Daily. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Employee weight management through health coaching". Eating and Weight Disorders. 15: e52-9. March 2010. doi:10.1007/BF03325280. PMID 20571321.
  10. ^ "Directive and nondirective e-coach support for weight loss in overweight adults". Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 41 (2): 252–63. April 2011. doi:10.1007/s12160-010-9240-2. PMC 3891570. PMID 21108032.
  11. ^ Wadden, Thomas A.; Butryn, Meghan L.; Hong, Patricia S.; Tsai, Adam G. (2014-11-05). "Behavioral Treatment of Obesity in Patients Encountered in Primary Care Settings: A Systematic Review". JAMA. 312 (17): 1779. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.14173. ISSN 0098-7484. PMC 4443898. PMID 25369490.
  12. ^ Anker, Markus S.; Landmesser, Ulf; Haehling, Stephan; Butler, Javed; Coats, Andrew J.S.; Anker, Stefan D. (2020-12-31). "Weight loss, malnutrition, and cachexia in COVID‐19: facts and numbers". Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. 12 (1): 9–13. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12674. ISSN 2190-5991. PMC 7890265. PMID 33382211.
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