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Wellness Coaching Can Produce Significant and Long-term Improvements in Health Behaviors
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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Making a lifestyle change can be a daunting task, as an overwhelming amount of popular health trends seem unsustainable at best and, at worst, could be dangerous. However, promising results of a study conducted by Mayo Clinic experts suggests that one of these latest trends ─ wellness coaching ─ can produce substantial lifestyle improvements that align with an individual’s personal values and foster confidence to sustain these changes after the program has concluded.
Wellness coaches are trained professionals who help individuals identify values and make customized changes to manage stress, begin or maintain healthy habits and improve their overall quality of life. One of the reasons wellness coaching can be successful is that the focus isn’t necessarily on weight management or fitness. People usually begin wellness programs to lose weight, but, according to Matthew Clark, Ph. D., L.P., the study’s lead author and medical expert at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, what often begins as a short-term goal evolves into clinically meaningful improvements, such as stress reduction, sleep improvement, increased spiritual connection and quality of life that is sustained long after the wellness program has been completed.
This study, which is published in The American Journal of Health Promotion, examines data from three main areas of wellness coaching: health behaviors, eating self-efficacy and goal-setting skills. Researchers asked 100 participants to evaluate themselves based on these criteria at the beginning of the program, after the standard 12 weeks were completed and three months following the last appointment. In all three areas, individuals reported statistically significant improvement and maintained self-perception of these improvements during the three-month period following.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu
The research from the study, conducted at the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center on Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, is being used for ongoing program planning at the clinic’s own Healthy Living Program – a comprehensive wellness program led by certified wellness experts. Dr. Clark offers this advice for people looking to make a lifestyle change: “If you’re looking to improve your quality of life ─ if you’re trying to make healthier changes ─ and it’s been difficult to do that on your own, be receptive to working with a wellness coach. That person can provide you with guidance, look at your strengths and help you build confidence and skills for long-term change.”
To contact the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program for more information, go to https://healthyliving.mayoclinic.org/.
About the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program
The Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program is redefining healthy living. It’s a comprehensive, whole-body wellness experience guided by medical research and evidence-based medicine to offer guests trusted solutions to improve quality of life. The program is research-driven around diet, exercise and resiliency, and, when all of these are connected, they encompass the power needed to make sustainable changes. Wellness coaches work with individuals to design comprehensive, personalized wellness plans based on goals and expectations. Ongoing support is offered to ensure continued success and sustainability once guests return home. Cooking demonstrations, physical activities, resiliency experiences and spa services are available to guests, patients and family members through our a la carte menu. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program is close to a local airport and is within a 75-minute drive of Minneapolis. For more information, visit https://healthyliving.mayoclinic.org/.
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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic or https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/.
