Health and Wellness Coaching with Chronic Disease

If a person is not following the evolutionary nutrition we were meant for, and instead is following a modern diet, and the modern diet is making them ill with chronic disease, is it or is it not within the scope of a health and wellness coach to address the discrepancy in their diet, and in the process relate the nature of the two diets to causes of chronic disease?

Yes, it is within the scope of a health and wellness coach to address discrepancies in a client’s diet if the modern diet is contributing to chronic illness. A health and wellness coach helps clients achieve overall well-being by promoting lifestyle changes that align with health goals, including dietary improvements.

Here’s how it would be within the scope of practice:

1. Education and Awareness: The coach can educate the client about the impact of diet on health, including how modern eating patterns (e.g., highly processed foods, excess sugar, and unhealthy fats) may contribute to chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. They can compare this to more “evolutionary” or whole-food-based diets, emphasizing the importance of nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods for overall wellness.

2. Behavior Change: A core responsibility of a coach is guiding behavior change. If chronic disease is influenced by the client’s diet, the coach can work with them to make incremental shifts toward healthier eating habits that reduce the risk or severity of chronic diseases.

3. Empowerment: While they may not be a licensed dietitian or doctor (unless holding such credentials), health and wellness coaches empower clients to make informed choices. They can discuss general dietary principles—such as increasing whole foods, vegetables, and lean proteins—and the potential health impacts of shifting to a more traditional, balanced diet.

However, it is essential for the coach to stay within their training and not diagnose or prescribe specific medical treatments. They should collaborate with registered dietitians or healthcare professionals when a client’s chronic disease management requires medical nutritional therapy or specific clinical advice.

Summary:

It is appropriate for a health and wellness coach to address the relationship between diet and chronic disease, while providing education and support to facilitate healthier eating patterns, but they must avoid making specific medical or dietary diagnoses outside of their scope.