Abstract
BackgroundOverweight and obesity are problems that are increasing globally in both children as well as adults, and may be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Lifestyle coaches counsel overweight and obese children (and their parents) as well as adults in initiating and maintaining healthier lifestyle behaviours. It is currently unclear whether this novel professional in the Dutch health care system functions as a linchpin in networks that evolve around lifestyle-related health problems. The aim of the present study is to investigate the formation and development of networks of lifestyle coaches and their positions within these networks.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, key professionals and professionals within relevant organisations in the Coaching on Lifestyle (CooL) care networks were asked to fill in three online questionnaires. Respondents were asked to indicate whether they collaborated with each of the specified professionals in the context of CooL. The overall network structures and the central role of the lifestyle coaches were examined by using network analysis.ResultsThe results showed that the networks in three out of four regions were relatively centralised, but that none of the networks were dense, and that the professionals seemed to collaborate less with others over time. Half of the lifestyle coaches had a high number of collaborations and a central position within their networks, which also increased over time. In half of the regions, the lifestyle coaches had increased their role as consultants, while their role as gatekeeper and liaison decreased over time. In most regions, the sector of lifestyle coaches had a central position in their networks in just one measurement. Other central sectors were the local sports organisation, public health services, youth health care and the municipal government.ConclusionsOverall, we cannot conclude that more central and denser networks were formed during the study period. In addition, the lifestyle coaches were not often positioned as a central sector within these networks. Entrepreneurial, network and brokering competences are required for lifestyle coaches to build up denser networks.Trial registrationNTR6208; date registered: 13–01-2017; retrospectively registered; Netherlands Trial Register.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are problems that are increasing globally in both children as well as adults, and may be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle
We explored the structure of health care networks and the position of lifestyle coaches within these networks over time
Design and study setting In the current study, the lifestyle coaches were working in the Coaching on Lifestyle (CooL) intervention, which is a combined lifestyle intervention (CLI)
Summary
Overweight and obesity are problems that are increasing globally in both children as well as adults, and may be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Due to the complexity of these problems and the variety of causes and consequences [3], many health and nonhealth professional disciplines are involved in helping to overcome them, and intersectoral collaboration is needed [4] In addition to these professionals, the lifestyle coach is a novel profession in the Dutch health care system concerning obesity prevention and treatment. Their primary task is being a health care provider, as they counsel overweight and obese children (and their parents) as well as adults in initiating and maintaining healthier lifestyle behaviours. Lifestyle coaches are likely to function as linchpins (i.e. having a central and connecting role) in the prevention and health care network [5]
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