WHY YOU NEED A HEALTH COACH
By Li Green
It's 2017 and we have the most
advanced medical technology at
our fingertips that's ever been
available, so why are so many
people still chronically ill?
According to the International
Diabetes Federation,
there are 387 million people
living with diabetes; one in 12
people have diabetes and one in
every two affected don’t know
they have it. Every seven seconds
one person dies from the
disease. There were 4.9 million
diabetes-related deaths in
2014.
To me, these statistics are
heartbreaking when considering
that diabetes, high blood
pressure, obesity, asthma, and
other related conditions are
highly preventable.
So why are most doctors
still using the same approach,
putting a bandage over the disease
rather than treating the
root cause?
A 2011 New York Times
article discusses that evidence
based practices many
doctors use don’t translate into
patients’ day-to-day lives. They
end up treating the visible
symptoms, but not the cause,
leaving a lot of wiggle room for
the disease to worsen if preventive
measures are not taken.
The only person who can
make real changes is the patient
– no one can force him or her
to take action. Some patients
do not listen to their doctor’s
advice out of stubbornness, but
most people simply need more
guidance than an insulin injection
schedule and a list of dos
and don’ts.
Evidence-based practices
are applied as if humans are
robots that can simply make
changes on command. This approach
negates the importance
of bio-individuality – that no
one diet fits everyone.
It’s hard to make and maintain
meaningful changes in
your diet and lifestyle without
full support from an experienced
guide.
How do health coaches fit
into healthcare? A health coach
guides you in making gradual
changes to your eating habits
and lifestyle, which lead to a
complete health transformation.
Health coaches may also
guide you in eating more delicious,
home-cooked food and
show you the ropes at your local
grocery store, among numerous
other services. You don’t
have to choose between being
sick and eating cardboard-like
diet foods.
Health coaches do not
teach a one-size-fits-all approach
– they learn about your
concerns and goals and partner
with you in creating a holistic,
unique program that will work
for you long-term – no quick
fixes here!
24 Healthy Living | Fall Issue | 2017