The Difference Between a Nutritionist and Health Coach

A health coach helps people become healthy. But so does a nutritionist! Both address the diet and nutrition aspects of an individual in order to resolve their physical symptoms. So much so that a nurse health coach is often mistaken for a nutritionist or a dietician at best.

However, there are quite a few essential differences between these jobs. Let’s find out more:

Nutritionist/Dietician – While registered dieticians and nutritionists also differ in their functions, they mainly educate people on how food affects their body and what they should eat in order to become healthy. The primary goal is weight loss, though nutritionists can also help in managing a disease, fixing a deficiency, or even just becoming more energetic.

A dietician or nutritionist will prescribe a meal plan and tell you to control your eating habits. Some do extend to prescribing exercise programs as well. They may provide follow-up evaluations and track your progress, but they are not responsible for improving your health and you cannot expect any support from their end.

Health coach – A health coach also provides advice on food and nutrition, but the role is much more varied and far-reaching than a nutritionist or dietician. This is because a health coach is responsible for your overall health and wellness goals – this can range from losing weight, becoming fit or athletic, overcoming fatigue, and improving energy levels to changing habits/addictions or even recovering from disease.

Therefore, this approach to attaining wellness looks at the whole picture and is quite all-encompassing. It extends beyond diet to include exercise, career, relationships, emotional issues, and even spirituality.

A health coach will talk with you in detail and ask numerous questions to dig out the specific triggers that are keeping you from becoming healthy. This could be your lifestyle, personal stress, career setback, or other anguish. The subsequent counseling is centered on helping you mobilize your hidden strengths that will empower you to become fit and healthy.

Apart from this, a health coach truly functions as a mentor and guide as he supports you in your journey towards achieving your goals. For instance, the coach will lead you on a personalized road-map to change your eating habits, incorporate more physical activity, get more sleep, deal with stress, or even nurture a personal relationship. These changes will be designed in a way that suits your body and your lifestyle too. You are answerable to the nurse health coach and he will hold you accountable for your actions.

This kind of coaching brings about a sustainable change in mindset. The results may take time but will be extraordinary.

In sum, while nutritionists and dieticians have their own niche, health coaching is a holistic approach that provides well-rounded solutions that cultivate balance and lead to lasting changes.

The author is a professional writer in the field of health and fitness. She wants to highlight how a nurse health coach can help you to boost up yourself.