Health Coach Vs. Personal Trainer: What You Need to Know

It's no secret— there are a lot of weight loss programs out there. With around 45 million Americans going on a diet each year, more and more people are turning to weight loss professionals to help them on their wellness journey.

Whether you are looking for the best ways to kick-start weight loss, need a diabetic diet plan, or are ready to feel your best, knowing who to work with can make a huge difference in meeting your health and wellness goals. 

Two professionals that often come up are health coaches and personal trainers. So what's the difference between the two? How are they similar? Who should you work with?

We put together this guide to help you compare a health coach vs. a personal trainer. 

What does a health coach do?

A health coach is like your own personal cheerleader and health guide. They help you recognize habits hindering your health while empowering you to make the necessary diet, lifestyle, and nutrition changes to align with your health objectives. 

Research has shown that those who work with a health coach lose up to 3x times more weight than those who don't. That's because health coaches are partners in supporting your focus on healthy long-term behaviors crucial for optimal wellness. 

Many health coaches can help with various health issues—from adjusting exercise and meal plans for weight loss to managing chronic conditions like heart disease or Type 2 diabetes. 

What does a personal trainer do?

A personal trainer works with you individually or in a small group to achieve fitness-related goals, such as:

• weight loss
• increase muscle mass and endurance 
• enhance body composition
• improve athletic performance
• boost flexibility 

They create fitness programs tailored to your goals, demonstrate proper exercise form, assess that you are using the correct execution, offer motivation and encouragement throughout each session, evaluate progress, and modify workout plans periodically.

Health coach vs. personal trainer: key differences

While a health coach and personal trainer can help with weight loss, make exercise recommendations, and provide support and encouragement, there are some key differences.

The field of expertise

Whether your goal is to lose weight or improve overall health, a personal trainer focuses solely on fitness. They create workouts and provide effective and adequate direction to meet your goals. 

On the other hand, health coaching has a broader scope as it involves many aspects of health, including

• weight
• exercise
• sleep hygiene
• stress management 
• time management
• lifestyle habits (i.e., smoking tobacco, drinking, drug use)
• nutrition and diet

The long-term relationship

Traditionally, with a personal trainer, you meet once or twice a week to work on exercise. You may find working with a trainer for a few months or less is all you need. 

Health coaching goes beyond fitness training to focus on weight loss programs that bring long-term changes and progress.

Work environment

Many personal trainers work in gyms or health clubs, while some can be found in clients' homes, retirement communities, resorts, spas, and corporations. 

On the other hand, health coaches operate out of fitness centers, hospitals, medical offices, private practices, resorts, spas, weight loss clinics, corporate wellness organizations, and even virtually.

Similarities between a health coach and a personal trainer

It may seem like a health coach and a personal trainer could not be more opposite. However, they do share some similarities. 

Certifications

Technically, personal trainers nor health coaches need a certification, license, or special education to take on clients for their services.

However, it's very difficult to succeed in either position without certifications. Most gyms, weight loss clinics, and other wellness facilities require trainers and coaches to have proper training and certifications. 

You should proceed with caution when deciding to work with someone who says they are a health coach or personal trainer and doesn't have the credentials to back it up. 

Not medical professionals

Health coaches and personal trainers are not medical professionals, meaning they can't diagnose, treat, interpret test results, or prescribe medications. 

If necessary, they should refer clients to the relevant healthcare professionals instead, such as a registered dietician, a bariatric physician, or a physical therapist. 

One-size-doesn't-fit-all approach

Another similarity between health coaches and personal trainers is their dedication to helping their clients change their lives for the better. 

Health coaches and personal trainers use similar methods to learn about clients' health history, and determine the goals they will help their clients achieve through coaching. A health coach serves their client by helping them implement various healthy lifestyle changes, while a personal trainer would focus solely on fitness methods.

They each may use a customized approach to meet the goals, challenges, and needs of each individual person they work with, to help them achieve better results.

Final thoughts

If you're looking for someone to support, guide, and motivate you long-term for a healthier lifestyle, a health coach may be the person you need.  

Here at Profile Plan, we know there is no one-size-fits-all regarding weight loss and wellness. Therefore, we match our clients with certified health coaches who help them create customized weight loss plans that meet their needs, goals, and lifestyle. 

If you want a simple, satisfying, sustainable weight loss and nutrition program that maximizes results, Profile Plan is here to help. Take our health quiz to get started, or if you have questions use our chat feature on the bottom right of our website.