Health Coaching Integration Into Primary Care for the Treatment of Obesity

Obesity (and its related comorbidities) is one of the fastest-growing health concerns facing the United States and shows no sign of abating.(1) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculated that nearly 36% of American adults were obese in 2010 and estimates that this number will reach 44% by 2018. The current standard of care for the management of patients with obesity in primary care is often a general recommendation by the physician to lose weight through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. Educational materials may be provided along with a referral to a dietician, nutritionist, or weight management program. Health coaching as an obesity intervention has yet to be fully integrated into primary care practice but has proven to be effective in corporate wellness and behavioral weight loss programs.(2)(–)(5)