As public health in the UK continues to decline and NHS services come under mounting pressure, innovative approaches to care and prevention are more important than ever.
Health coaching – a collaborative, evidence-informed discipline – offers a powerful way to improve health outcomes by supporting individuals to take ownership of their wellbeing.
Increasingly available across both private and NHS settings, health coaching is helping people make sustainable lifestyle changes that reduce the burden of chronic disease and enhance quality of life.
The UK’s Growing Health Crisis
The UK faces a public health emergency on several fronts. Rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, mental health issues, and multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) are rising year-on-year. According to the Health Foundation, around 14 million people in England now live with two or more health conditions – a figure projected to increase to 18 million by 2035, largely due to an ageing population and lifestyle-related diseases.
Simultaneously, the NHS is grappling with chronic staff shortages, long waiting lists, and escalating costs. Primary care services, often the first port of call for people seeking health advice or management, are stretched to capacity. Clinicians are under increasing pressure to provide quick fixes to complex, long-term problems – something traditional models of care were not designed to do.
Against this backdrop, health coaching has emerged as a timely and effective approach to bridge the gap between clinical guidance and real-life behaviour change.
What is Health Coaching?
Health coaching is a person-centred, non-directive approach that empowers individuals to take charge of their own health and wellbeing. Unlike traditional health education models that emphasise advice-giving, health coaching involves working collaboratively with individuals to set goals, overcome barriers, and build confidence and motivation for sustainable lifestyle change.
Health coaches are trained in evidence-based communication techniques such as motivational interviewing, active listening, and behaviour change theory. The aim is not to tell clients what to do, but to help them identify their own intrinsic motivations and tailor health strategies to fit their unique life circumstances.
How Does Health Coaching Work in Practice?
Health coaches support clients across a wide spectrum of health goals. These might include:
- Improving diet and physical activity
- Managing stress and sleep
- Reducing alcohol intake or quitting smoking
- Navigating chronic illness
- Building self-management skills post-diagnosis
Rather than focusing solely on clinical outcomes, coaching supports the development of self-efficacy – people’s belief in their ability to make changes. This can have far-reaching benefits.
A 2021 systematic review published in BMC Health Services Research found that health coaching interventions significantly improved clinical outcomes in people with chronic conditions, particularly in areas like glycaemic control, weight loss, and blood pressure management.
Evidence of Impact
The evidence base for health coaching is growing rapidly. Studies have shown that it can:
- Improve chronic disease management: A meta-analysis in Medical Care reported that health coaching led to significant improvements in HbA1c, BMI, and physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Support mental health: Health coaching has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, particularly in people with long-term conditions or those adjusting to new diagnoses.
- Reduce demand on primary care: One pilot scheme in Tower Hamlets found that social prescribing link workers and health coaches reduced GP appointments by up to 20% for participating patients.
- Promote long-term lifestyle change: Unlike one-off interventions, health coaching supports sustained behaviour change through ongoing accountability and support.
Growing Role Within the NHS
Recognising its value, the NHS has started to integrate health coaching into frontline services. The NHS Long-Term Plan emphasises “person-centred care” and supports the use of health coaches and care coordinators within primary care networks (PCNs).
Under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), thousands of health and wellbeing coaches have now been recruited across the country. These professionals work alongside GPs, nurses, and other clinicians, helping patients – especially those with MLTCs – improve their self-care and reduce dependence on reactive healthcare services.
While the rollout is still uneven and varies by region, early feedback from both patients and practices has been encouraging. Many report improved engagement, increased patient satisfaction, and greater capacity to focus clinical time on acute or complex cases.
Accessibility and Private Options
Beyond the NHS, health coaching is also available privately. Many coaches work independently or through health and wellbeing companies, offering services to individuals, community groups, or corporate clients. This includes people seeking support with weight management, fertility, burnout recovery, or even life transitions such as post-menopause health or retirement.
While cost can be a barrier for some, the flexibility of coaching (including remote sessions and group formats) means it can often be tailored to suit a range of needs and budgets. Some private health insurers are also beginning to include coaching as part of broader wellbeing offerings.
Why It Matters Now
Health coaching isn’t a silver bullet. But in a time of escalating need and constrained resources, it represents a proactive, scalable, and empowering solution to some of the UK’s most pressing health challenges.
By placing individuals at the centre of their health journey, coaching fosters the kind of behavioural and mindset shifts that are essential for long-term wellbeing. It complements – not replaces – clinical care, enhancing the impact of interventions and relieving pressure on frontline services.
At a system level, health coaching can contribute to a more sustainable NHS. At a human level, it helps people feel seen, heard, and capable of making meaningful change. As we rethink how to build a healthier society, that may be one of its greatest strengths.
Further Reading and Resources
- The Health Foundation: Managing multi-morbidity
- NHS England: Personalised care and health coaching
- Medical Care Journal – Health Coaching Meta-analysis (2016)