The Effects of a Medical Fitness Community Wellness Program Employing a Health Coaching Model

Abstract

Community medical fitness programs and health coaching are emerging trends in health care but very little information is available on the effects of combining the two. Fitness programs are generally acknowledged as beneficial; when health coaching is available and used regularly is there an enhanced program effect?PURPOSE: To determine the health impact of a coaching component integrated within a community-based medical fitness program. METHODS: Journey to Wellness (J2W) program enrollees (N = 1,306) were predominately female (76%; 24% male) aged 12-87 y (53.54±14.34). Over a 3-mo intervention, J2W emphasized exercise participation, offered nutrition counseling, community (social/emotional) events, and health coaching. Health coaches were trained using an 18-week educational program. Coaching participation averaged 4.4±2.5 sessions with 0-22 range and was analyzed at three levels (0-3; 4-6; 6+ sessions). Pre and post measures were Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Lifestyle Nutrition Behavior (LNB), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Dartmouth Quality of Life (QoL), exercise minutes, weight, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A series of 2x3 ANOVA were used to examine data after adjusting alpha. RESULTS: J2W intervention significantly (p < .01) improved all outcomes with > 250% increase in exercise minutes. Between 20-43.17% improvements were observed for health scores (PHQ, GAD, QoL) while LNB improved 7.5%, and biometrics (weight, waist, blood pressures) between 1-2.2%. Moreover, significant interactions (p < .01) indicated greater participation in health coaching further enhanced the J2W effect for PHQ and QoL (weight and GAD approached significance; p < .05 and < .1, respectively). CONCLUSION: By all accounts J2W was an extremely effective community wellness intervention. When participants performed health coaching regularly the beneficial effects of this medical fitness program were enhanced. Health and wellness coaches working in conjunction with a medical fitness program provide a powerful community-based health intervention.