Coaching for health

Liz Jones Solano is a certified health coach and a wellness and fitness strategist. She tells WellNation how personalised wellness services can deliver life-changing results

Chronic illnesses like diabetes, obesity and heart disease are rising at alarming rates, costing the NHS billions each year – yet most are preventable. The challenge isn’t that people don’t know what to do. The reality is that people live extremely busy lives, filled with stress and a constant demand on their time – which makes following fitness and wellbeing regimes hard. How many times have you promised yourself you’d eat better, exercise more or finally manage stress – only to slip back into old habits? You’re not alone.

This is where health coaching makes the difference: bridging the gap between good intentions and lasting change, supporting people to get back in the driving seat of their own health.

What is the role of a health coach?

Health coaches empower people to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed choices, set meaningful goals and sustain lifestyle changes. Using tools like motivational interviewing, active listening, ‘SMART’ goal setting, habit science and positive psychology, we help clients clarify values, uncover motivators and take practical steps toward sustainable wellbeing.

Unlike doctors or therapists, health coaches don’t diagnose or prescribe. Instead, we complement healthcare professionals by focusing on the four pillars of wellbeing – nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management. We offer accountability, mentoring and a supportive space, guiding clients to design their own blueprint for a healthier life.

Transformative Impact

On an individual level, health coaching can be life-changing. Research shows improvements in weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes management, alongside higher energy, resilience and self-belief. For me, the greatest transformations come when clients reconnect with their authentic motivators and sources of joy! In my practice I also weave in functional breathwork, meditation and mindfulness, giving clients practical tools to regulate stress, cultivate mind-body awareness and prevent burnout.

Health coaching bridges the gap between good intentions and lasting change

At a public health level, the impact is equally powerful. NHS England recognises health coaching as one of five key interventions in its Self-Care Programme. With lifestyle-related conditions driving most NHS costs, coaching offers a preventative, cost-effective solution that frees clinicians to focus on acute care. As the power of prevention is increasingly recognised, health coaching is rapidly moving into the spotlight.

The workplace case is just as strong. Studies show wellbeing programmes with coaching reduce absenteeism by up to 32% and sick leave by 28%. A meta-analysis found a strong return on investment, with £3 returned for every £1 spent. With the WHO estimating that stress and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion annually, coaching isn’t just good for people – it’s good for business.

A profession with standards

Health coaching is self-regulated in the UK, so training with a high-quality provider is key. I certified with Health Coaches Academy (HCA) and now run my own coaching practice alongside motivational speaking at conferences and corporate events [(www.lizsolano.com).](http://www.lizsolano.com/) I am also an Ambassador for HCA, which is an approved UKIHCA partner and offers the UK’s highest-level health coaching qualification – the Level 5 Diploma, accredited by QUALIFI and the Association for Coaching (AC). This ensures graduates are safe, ethical and effective practitioners, ready to meet growing demand. For me, health coaching is about rediscovering joy, purpose and confidence in your own health. Whether through 1:1 coaching, workplace programmes or motivational talks, the mission of a health coach is to help people build a lifestyle they love – grounded in resilience, aligned with values, and thriving in energy and focus. If you’re interested in learning more, or curious about becoming a health coach, get in touch.