Health trends can be found on news headlines and online forums every single day. Some, such as going vegetarian once a week, have proven benefits and can even help you save a little bit of money on your food budget. Others are harmless, but may be a little bit frivolous in the eyes of mainstream science. Both of these are okay. What isn’t okay though is when dangerous health trends that can potentially harm people start making the rounds on the internet. Recently, an innocuous-sounding wellness trend (and industry) has started to take hold online: health coaches. Doctors have issued out numerous warnings against it, particularly because there are no regulations pertaining to who can call themselves a "health coach." If they're not qualified to give out this advice, why are they calling themselves a health coach? We'll get to the bottom of what consumers have to know about these dangerous health trends. If you know concerned people out there who could benefit from this information, be sure to SHARE this article!

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the price of health care is soaring throughout the United States. Health insurance for a family of four can easily exceed the price of housing, and those who are uninsured often risk bankruptcy if they get diagnosed with a serious illness. As the price of health care increases, people are now increasingly turning to prevention as a way to avoid high bills and sickness later in life. Preventive care, including things like diet, regular exercise, and paying attention to mental health, has greatly increased over the past 15 years.

In order to help curb the costs of staying healthy, the medical industry has begun to rely on better technology and new healthcare professions to both prevent and treat illnesses. In the tech world, the practice of telemedicine has become a smart way to see a doctor for minor prescriptions without actually having to pay the high fees associated with an office visit. Professionally, new and more easily attainable positions have made it possible for people to talk to trained and educated individuals about their health concerns. This helps alleviate the burden doctors have while still providing adequate health care to patients.

Health coaches are one of the newest professions in the healthcare world, and they are meant to be experts in keeping you healthy. By preventing the chances of sickness later on, health coaches lower the cost of both insurance and medical bills. People who want to prevent illness turn to health coaches for everything from weight loss to better self-care practices. Many people have gained excellent results from working with a health coach, especially those who have a medical background.

The problem with the term “health coach” is that it’s vague. There are no real federal regulations on who can call themselves a health coach, per se. So, this means that there are currently health coaches who are certified after a six-month course and there are also coaches who graduated from a four-year university. In terms of curriculum, very little is actually required in order to become a health coach. Therein lies the problem, and why doctors are growing leery of the title overall.

The fitness field is known for having its fair share of schemes, and it appears that the once-esteemed title of “health coach” is falling victim to MLM-style practices. MLM businesses, also known as multi-level marketing companies, are designed to perpetuate their growth via recruitment rather than sales. So far, there have been several companies peddling “Health Coach Certificates” that are neither accredited by the Department of Education, nor meet the minimum standards set forth in most medical settings.

The problem with non-accredited certification programs boils down to bad education. Health coaches that graduate from these programs often can’t find employment in their field. Those who do often do not have the knowledge necessary to safely advise their clients. This can lead to a plethora of problems, including clients using practices that put them at risk of health problems. The label of “health coach” has also been used to sell supplements that may or may not work to improve the client’s health.

The ties between health coaching and MLM businesses has been increasingly noticed in the wellness industry. This suggests that the healthcare term is now becoming a tool for people interested in profiteering, rather than helping others live better lives. Of particular concern to the medical community is the use of the title of “Health Coach” to push unsafe or disproven supplements as a way to increase a coach’s income. The number of people who have complained to medical boards about health coach profiteering has soared in recent years.

Along with the issue of profiteering through supplement sales, health coaches have been caught doling out dangerous advice to clients who trust them with their lives. This has led to incidents of clients fainting at the gym, malnutrition, and yes, sports injuries as well. These cases are rare, but they have been on the rise. A health coach isn’t healthy for you if they can’t offer advice that keeps you safe while you lose weight and get better. As the complaints roll in, doctors are increasingly concerned about the health coaching industry as a whole.

Doctors want to emphasize that health coaches are not all bad, and that the right health coach can greatly improve a person’s results and quality of life. There are thousands of health coaches who give their clients excellent results, have world class educations, and avoid pushing supplements on their patients. However, due to the certification problems associated with the industry, it’s vital that people be wary of who they choose to aid them as they lose weight and improve their health.

The most highly esteemed accreditation organizations dealing with health coaching include the ACE, AFPA, ACTO, and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. These groups act as boards that determine whether or not the curriculum being taught to health coaches is up to standard. Every board mentioned is in accordance with national standards and expects their coaches to behave by a code of ethics. Coaching programs that do not have these types of certification are at risk of being fraudulent.

Some colleges, such as Arizona State University, also offer degrees in Health Coaching as part of their fitness line of degrees. The general medical world welcomes this type of certification, since it is paired with state-accredited education programs geared toward safe health and dieting practices. Generally speaking, if the college that you received your health coaching degree from is accredited, the services you will get from there will be safe and beneficial to you.

Many doctors point out that the most glaring warning sign a health coach’s practice can have is their accreditation and certification basis. Those who are certified via a low-quality program that does not have outside accreditation or high standards for graduation are health coaches that should be avoided. Just like with any other healthcare provider, the education standards of your health coach matter. Without a good education, it is possible that even the most well-meaning of coaches could make a terrible mistake.

As the healthcare industry increases its span of services, it only makes sense for some healthcare providers to get additional certifications. In the event of seeing a licensed nurse wielding a health coach certification, you need not worry. The grueling education that comes with a nurse’s title means that your health coach has all the knowledge necessary to ensure your safety as you start your journey on the road to wellness. After all, being a nurse requires heavy schooling and extensive testing.

It’s a known fact that many health coaches end up creating their own practices, or work as an “extra” at local gyms. This, in and of itself, is not necessarily a red flag. There are many health coaches who are highly regarded in their field who choose to grow their own business. The more concerning red flag though is when you are given a “hard sell” by a health coach. This is particularly worrisome when the hard sell pitch they give you deals with supplements or other gadgets that have little scientific evidence to prove that they work.

As stated before, MLM companies tend to make the bulk of their money through recruitment rather than actual sales. Health coaches who are certified by MLMs don’t make their money by offering their services. Rather, they make money by recruiting others to coach underneath them and sell services on their behalf. Many of the worst health coaching businesses tend to sell the idea of being a health coach as well. If you run into a coach who strongly emphasizes the earning potential of their job, it may be best to avoid working with them at all.

In many cases, people tend to have a good idea of whether or not they should trust someone with their health. This is true, even when you yourself aren’t a healthcare professional. A good rule of thumb is to find a health coach that you feel comfortable with and trust in. If your potential health coach is extremely aggressive with their tactics or doesn’t actually make you feel like you’re doing well without the additional purchase of products, you may need to switch coaches.

Another major warning sign to look for in health coaches is the use of religion and spirituality as a way to reinforce health beliefs. Though there are exceptions to this rule, the concern behind this issue is the lack of professionalism. Many aspects of the wellness industry have been used by cults as a tool for recruitment. In order to avoid getting involved with cults or cult-like behavior, it's best to avoid mixing heavy-handed spirituality with health. By taking spirituality out of the picture, you prevent that from happening.

The majority of healthcare professionals will be able to tell you whether or not a health coaching program is legitimate. Most professionals in the medical world will also be able to refer you to a trained, educated, and qualified health coach capable of making you meet your goals. If you aren’t totally certain of a potential health coach’s qualifications, asking your doctor or primary care physician for help is a good move. If that doesn’t help, you can always ask what their training involved.

When you’re dieting, a little hunger is to be expected. Lightheadedness, or worse, fainting, is not. When you’re exercising, it’s normal to be sore the day after a good workout. Soreness, though, isn’t the same as searing pain. A health coach that tells you to work through searing pain, or says you aren’t being dedicated while you’re fainting, is not someone to work with. Listen to your body and you will be able to make the right decisions for it.

The important thing to remember is that your health is in your hands. You are the one who chooses your doctors, your hospital, as well as your health insurance. Your health care is in your control. This means that you are the one in control at the end of the day. You never have to work with a health coach that you feel is inadequate, nor do you have to work with a coach at all. Do not feel sorry for firing a health coach that didn’t have your best interests in mind; it’s what they are paid to do.

The reason why health coaches are currently experiencing a massive influx of “professionals” deals with the overall boom in the wellness industry. Since this is a relatively new field with little to no regulation, people from every walk of life are now flocking toward it. Health coaches may have started to gain a bad name due to the influx of under-qualified individuals, but they are by no means the only ones to suffer from the deregulation. Many new roles in the wellness industry have suffered similar issues.

The more you educate yourself on the health coaching field, the better off you will be as a consumer. Health coaches are really only meant to help with weight loss and overall wellness. They are not meant to diagnose or treat illnesses. They are also not meant to help with matters of mental health. The easiest way to avoid being a victim of a scam is to do your research before you hire a health coach for your own unique needs. The more you know, the better off you are.

As the role of health coach starts to become more important and visible in the preventive health field, the qualifications for the title will become more solidified in both an academic and legal sense. In many states, medical professionals are rallying to pass legislation dealing with the qualifications necessary to become a health coach. Legislation like this is meant to protect you, but it can only be passed by local government committees. Until laws are passed on a federal level, health coaching is one of those terms that doesn’t necessarily hold much clout.

It’s totally okay if you aren’t sure whether or not a health coach is the right option for you and your health goals. Health coaches that are worth their prices aren’t always easy to come by, and can be difficult to differentiate from those who are not qualified. If you are concerned about weight loss or diet advice, but do not feel comfortable with hiring a health coach, that’s alright. You can hire dietitians, nutritionists, as personal trainers to achieve similar results.

All in all, doctors are not saying to swear off health coaches as a whole. They are, however, advising potential clients to research their options and learn about the wellness industry’s standards before they make a decision on hiring a health coach of their own. Until there is a codified, national standard that dictates who can and can not call themselves a health coach, it’s up to the buyer to decide whether or not the services being offered are worth it. That’s what doctors want you to know, and what you should know in order to ensure the best results for your self.