EVIDENCE & INSIGHTS
Why Coaching Works
Why Coaching Works
Why Coaching Works
Healthy change often begins with knowing what matters. Making that change work in everyday life, and sustaining it over time, can be much harder.
Healthy change often begins with knowing what matters. Making that change work in everyday life, and sustaining it over time, can be much harder.
Healthy change often begins with knowing what matters. Making that change work in everyday life, and sustaining it over time, can be much harder.
Health and well-being coaching helps bridge that gap through a collaborative process built around you: your goals, your strengths, your circumstances, and your life.
Health and well-being coaching helps bridge that gap through a collaborative process built around you: your goals, your strengths, your circumstances, and your life.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The challenge is bigger than any one behavior.
The challenge is bigger than any one behavior.
The challenge is bigger than any one behavior.
Chronic diseases are among the world’s greatest health challenges. The World Health Organization reports that noncommunicable diseases caused at least 43 million deaths in 2021, representing 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally.
Chronic diseases are among the world’s greatest health challenges. The World Health Organization reports that noncommunicable diseases caused at least 43 million deaths in 2021, representing 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally.
Many of the factors that influence long-term health are connected to everyday life: how we eat, move, sleep, manage stress, connect with others, and navigate risky substances.
Many of the factors that influence long-term health are connected to everyday life: how we eat, move, sleep, manage stress, connect with others, and navigate risky substances.
43 million
people died from chronic diseases worldwide in 2021.
75%
of non-pandemic-related deaths globally were attributed to chronic diseases.
THE GOOD NEWS
Lifestyle can make a meaningful difference.
Lifestyle can make a meaningful difference.
Lifestyle can make a meaningful difference.
Decades of research have demonstrated that lifestyle interventions can meaningfully influence health outcomes. Depending on the condition, population, and intervention, lifestyle change has been associated with reduced disease risk, improved health measures, and, in certain clinical circumstances, remission or regression of disease.
Decades of research have demonstrated that lifestyle interventions can meaningfully influence health outcomes. Depending on the condition, population, and intervention, lifestyle change has been associated with reduced disease risk, improved health measures, and, in certain clinical circumstances, remission or regression of disease.
This is not about promising a particular outcome. It is about recognizing something powerful:
This is not about promising a particular outcome. It is about recognizing something powerful:
The way we live can have a powerful impact on our health and well-being.
The way we live can have a powerful impact on our health and well-being.
The way we live can have a powerful impact on our health and well-being.
58% lower incidence of diabetes
58% lower incidence of diabetes
58% lower incidence of diabetes
In the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program, adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes who participated in an intensive lifestyle intervention experienced a 58% lower incidence of diabetes than those receiving placebo over an average 2.8 years.
In the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program, adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes who participated in an intensive lifestyle intervention experienced a 58% lower incidence of diabetes than those receiving placebo over an average 2.8 years.
Remission can be possible
Remission can be possible
Remission can be possible
In the DiRECT trial, a structured, primary-care-led weight-management intervention demonstrated that type 2 diabetes remission was achievable for some participants, with outcomes strongly related to weight loss.
In the DiRECT trial, a structured, primary-care-led weight-management intervention demonstrated that type 2 diabetes remission was achievable for some participants, with outcomes strongly related to weight loss.
Measurable regression
Measurable regression
Measurable regression
Landmark randomized research examining intensive comprehensive lifestyle change demonstrated measurable regression of coronary atherosclerosis in the intervention group, while disease progressed in the usual-care comparison group.
Landmark randomized research examining intensive comprehensive lifestyle change demonstrated measurable regression of coronary atherosclerosis in the intervention group, while disease progressed in the usual-care comparison group.
A WHOLE-PERSON FOUNDATION
Health is interconnected.
Health is interconnected.
Health is interconnected.
Lifestyle Medicine brings these ideas together through evidence-based therapeutic lifestyle interventions.
Lifestyle Medicine brings these ideas together through evidence-based therapeutic lifestyle interventions.
The six interconnected pillars include:
The six interconnected pillars include:
Optimal Nutrition
Physical Activity
Stress Management
Restorative Sleep
Connectedness
Risky Substance Avoidance
Rather than treating these as isolated parts of life, a whole-person perspective recognizes how they can influence one another.
Rather than treating these as isolated parts of life, a whole-person perspective recognizes how they can influence one another.
The six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine provide an evidence-informed foundation for everyday health and well-being. Whether you are pursuing your own well-being goals or working toward lifestyle changes recommended by a healthcare professional, Thrive coaching can help you turn what matters to you into realistic, sustainable action. When clinical care is involved, coaching can work alongside that care while remaining within the coachs scope of practice.
KNOWING ISN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH
Knowing what matters is one thing.
Knowing what matters is one thing.
Knowing what matters is one thing.
Making it work in your life is another.
Making it work in your life is another.
Making it work in your life is another.
A healthcare professional may recommend becoming more active, improving nutrition, managing stress, getting more restorative sleep, or making another meaningful change.
A healthcare professional may recommend becoming more active, improving nutrition, managing stress, getting more restorative sleep, or making another meaningful change.
Knowing what could help is important.
Knowing what could help is important.
But life gets busy. Motivation changes. Old habits return. What sounds straightforward on paper can feel very different when you’re trying to make it work alongside family, work, responsibilities, setbacks, and everything else that makes your life uniquely yours.
But life gets busy. Motivation changes. Old habits return. What sounds straightforward on paper can feel very different when you’re trying to make it work alongside family, work, responsibilities, setbacks, and everything else that makes your life uniquely yours.
That’s where coaching can help.
That’s where coaching can help.
That’s where coaching can help.
THE HUMAN SIDE OF CHANGE
Change works differently when it belongs to you.
Change works differently when it belongs to you.
Change works differently when it belongs to you.
Health and well-being coaching is not about someone handing you the right plan.
Health and well-being coaching is not about someone handing you the right plan.
It’s a partnership that creates space to explore what matters most, recognize strengths, discover possibilities, build confidence, experiment with realistic steps, learn from what happens, and adjust as life changes.
It’s a partnership that creates space to explore what matters most, recognize strengths, discover possibilities, build confidence, experiment with realistic steps, learn from what happens, and adjust as life changes.
YOU
You bring your life, experiences, strengths, values, and aspirations.
You bring your life, experiences, strengths, values, and aspirations.
YOUR JOURNEY
You decide where you want to go and what progress means to you.
You decide where you want to go and what progress means to you.
WHAT MATTERS MOST
Your values and priorities help provide direction.
Your values and priorities help provide direction.
THE COACHING PARTNERSHIP
Your coach provides a supportive space for discovery, learning, accountability, and growth.
Your coach provides a supportive space for discovery, learning, accountability, and growth.
Helping you discover and navigate your own path forward.
Helping you discover and navigate your own path forward.
Helping you discover and navigate your own path forward.
THE EVIDENCE FOR COACHING
A growing body of research supports the promise of coaching.
A growing body of research supports the promise of coaching.
A growing body of research supports the promise of coaching.
Nearly 9 in 10 studies showed sustained or improved outcomes
Nearly 9 in 10 studies showed sustained or improved outcomes
Nearly 9 in 10 studies showed sustained or improved outcomes
A systematic review examining what happened after health and wellness coaching found that 25 of 28 studies reported at least one outcome that was partially sustained, fully sustained, or improved at follow-up. Outcomes included physiological, behavioral, psychological, and health-risk measures.
A systematic review examining what happened after health and wellness coaching found that 25 of 28 studies reported at least one outcome that was partially sustained, fully sustained, or improved at follow-up. Outcomes included physiological, behavioral, psychological, and health-risk measures.
Improved quality of life and confidence
Improved quality of life and confidence
Improved quality of life and confidence
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 randomized studies found that health and wellness coaching improved quality of life and self-efficacy among adults with chronic conditions at measured short-term follow-up periods. The analysis also found improvements in depression at several follow-up points.
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 randomized studies found that health and wellness coaching improved quality of life and self-efficacy among adults with chronic conditions at measured short-term follow-up periods. The analysis also found improvements in depression at several follow-up points.
Your goals remain at the center
Your goals remain at the center
Your goals remain at the center
A foundational systematic review found that health and wellness coaching was predominantly client-centered, with 71% of the literature including client-determined goals and 86% describing a patient-centered process. Self-discovery, accountability, and an ongoing relationship with a trained coach were also recurring characteristics.
A foundational systematic review found that health and wellness coaching was predominantly client-centered, with 71% of the literature including client-determined goals and 86% describing a patient-centered process. Self-discovery, accountability, and an ongoing relationship with a trained coach were also recurring characteristics.
The evidence is promising and growing.
The evidence is promising and growing.
The evidence is promising and growing.
Health and wellness coaching continues to develop as a profession and a field of research. Studies have demonstrated promising outcomes across a range of populations and measures, while differences in coaching methods, study design, duration, and outcomes mean there is still more to learn about what works, for whom, and under what circumstances.
Health and wellness coaching continues to develop as a profession and a field of research. Studies have demonstrated promising outcomes across a range of populations and measures, while differences in coaching methods, study design, duration, and outcomes mean there is still more to learn about what works, for whom, and under what circumstances.
At Thrive, we believe evidence should inform coaching, not be overstated by it.
At Thrive, we believe evidence should inform coaching, not be overstated by it.
At Thrive, we believe evidence should inform coaching, not be overstated by it.
THE THRIVE APPROACH
Evidence informs our approach.
You determine the journey.
Evidence informs our approach.
You determine the journey.
Evidence informs our approach.
You determine the journey.
Research can help us understand the conditions that support meaningful change. But it cannot tell us what thriving means to you.
Research can help us understand the conditions that support meaningful change. But it cannot tell us what thriving means to you.
That’s where the coaching relationship becomes personal.
That’s where the coaching relationship becomes personal.
DISCOVER
Explore what matters most, where you are today, and what you want to be different.
Explore what matters most, where you are today, and what you want to be different.
DESIGN
Turn insight into realistic steps built around your strengths, priorities, and life.
Turn insight into realistic steps built around your strengths, priorities, and life.
THRIVE
Learn from experience, build confidence, adapt along the way, and continue moving toward the life and well-being you envision.
Learn from experience, build confidence, adapt along the way, and continue moving toward the life and well-being you envision.
YOUR JOURNEY IS YOURS
What could thriving look like for you?
What could thriving look like for you?
What could thriving look like for you?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. A conversation can be a simple first step.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. A conversation can be a simple first step.
Sources & Research
Sources & Research
Sources & Research
Explore the research behind this page.
The studies and resources below include the research referenced throughout this page, along with additional landmark evidence that helps inform our understanding of lifestyle, whole-person health, and health and well-being coaching. Expand any topic for a brief summary and a link to the original research.
LIFESTYLE & WHOLE-PERSON HEALTH
HEALTH & WELL-BEING COACHING
PROFESSIONAL FRAMEWORKS & STANDARDS