Why every weight loss journey deserves a coach — and how to find the right one

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A good coach can help you stay motivated, spot what’s working and adjust your plan along the way.This post is sponsored by Noom.

If you've tried weight loss approaches that haven't worked, it's easy to feel as though nothing will. But there may be one tool you haven't considered: coaching.

Research suggests coaching can help with weight loss. A small study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, adults with obesity who worked with a health coach lost more weight over 12 weeks than those who didn't. A review of 13 studies also found that coaching was more effective than formal health education alone at helping people lose weight and stay motivated.

Knowing that eating vegetables and exercising can help with weight loss is one thing. Putting that advice into practice is another. A coach can add accountability and help you spot patterns or adjust your plan when new challenges come up. But the term "coach" can describe anyone from a registered dietitian to an uncertified influencer, so it's important to choose wisely.

We spoke with three people about their experiences working with weight loss coaches and asked experts how to find the right coach for your needs.

Darlene Gnichtel had tried plenty of weight loss approaches before she worked with a coach on Noom. "I would starve myself, try to keep at 1,200 calories, work out hard every day," she says. Gnichtel says she reached the point where she had "given up" on losing weight but decided to try again when her blood sugar and cholesterol levels became a concern. "I did not want to need to take daily medications for being overweight," she says.

Gnichtel decided to try Noom and chose a tier that included coaching. "My coach is my biggest cheerleader," she says. "She helped me to see things in perspective and to not be frustrated by slow progress. She encouraged me when I was stuck on a plateau. I needed someone in my corner, cheering me on."

Coaching was especially helpful when Gnichtel struggled to stay within her calorie budget. "She would help me tease out why, like, 'Have I been sleeping enough?' because that affects hunger," she says. "She would help me rearrange foods I ate to keep me fuller at certain times of the day I was struggling with." Gnichtel also liked Noom's "microhabits," small healthy changes that users build into existing routines. "Anyone can do 10 squats," she says. "I started doing that in the bathroom after brushing my teeth. It has stuck for months, and now I add 10 jumping jacks."

Gnichtel says she could check in with her coach as things changed during her journey, sometimes multiple times a day and other times once a week. "There's no one else I could talk to who had my coach's knowledge and was willing to work the fine details with me," she says. "I couldn't have lost the weight without her." Gnichtel has kept the weight off for nine months. She's now in maintenance mode and says she'll return to coaching if she needs it.

Jennye Garibaldi realized in December 2023 that she was at her heaviest weight since her pregnancy. "I'd made the transition to working fully from home, and I was about to turn 46," she says. "My lifestyle had shifted, and my hormones had too. I was uncomfortable in my body." Garibaldi wanted to lose weight, but she also wanted to build strength and focus on her mobility, joint health, bone density and hormonal balance.

"I'd been working out for years, but my workouts were all over the place — lots of cardio classes, some strength training classes and random weightlifting sessions that didn't follow a plan," she says. She decided to work with trainer Taylor Beebe for professional guidance.

"The biggest benefit to working with Taylor has been gaining the knowledge and developing the structure that has allowed me to create healthy habits — tracking my macros, following a strength training program, getting enough steps each day and getting enough sleep each night," she says. "I lost weight, yes, but more importantly, I gained strength and knowledge about my body. I feel like I know myself better now."

Louis F. decided he needed to change his routine after losing several family members and accepting a buyout from his corporate job. He wanted to go skiing, a sport he hadn't enjoyed in 30 years. "I knew if I was going to do that, I needed to get in shape," he says.

Louis found a trainer with a background in nutrition who came to his house three times a week for workouts and nutrition coaching. "I wanted to feel healthy again, and it really helped to have guidance," he says. With help from trainer and ACE fitness nutrition specialist Lukas Mekler-Culbertson, Louis began exercising regularly and tracking his food intake. That included eating in a slight calorie deficit of 300 to 400 calories a day and drinking more water. "Before that, I was mostly drinking soda and coffee," he says. "I now drink up to 100 ounces of water a day."

Louis also tracked his progress with photos. "After six months, the change was tremendous," he says. "Accountability was huge for me." He liked being able to talk to his trainer when circumstances changed. "I was feeling sluggish at one point, and Lukas said, 'Let's boost your calories,'" he says. "I did and still lost weight."

Louis praises his trainer's approach to nutrition. "He recommends eating 80% for your body and 20% for your soul," he says. "He eats normally and told me, 'If you're out with friends, have a beer, have a piece of bread. It's not going to kill you.'"

Louis did go skiing, and he says he also took away lasting health guidance that he still uses.

The right coach is one who fits your needs. But a few overarching factors can guide your search.

Credentials can be murky, since "health coach" is an unregulated title that anyone can use. Look for verifiable titles, such as:

National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) for general wellness coaching

Registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN) for nutrition

Certified personal trainer (CPT) from an NCCA-accredited body for training

"By going with an RD, CPT or NBC-HWC, you know the person you're working with has a required amount of background knowledge, that their competency was verified by a third party and that they're staying up to date with the latest research because of continuing education requirements," says Kelli McGrane, a registered dietitian and Yahoo senior wellness writer.

"Different fields have very different educational requirements and all people have very specific and individual needs when it comes to exercise, nutrition and motivational support," says Laura Williams, a certified exercise physiologist and Yahoo senior health editor. Many dietitians and personal trainers have knowledge and training in each other's fields, but it's important to see the right specialist if you have an underlying health condition or highly specific needs. "You want the person you're working with to have a strong educational background that aligns with your goals to help ensure they're able to give you the most accurate and helpful information available," Williams says.

Many credentialed professionals offer a free initial consultation, and McGrane recommends holding it in the format you'll use for your sessions. (In other words, if you plan to talk by phone or Zoom, do the consultation that way.) "During the consultation, be sure to ask questions and be clear about any expectations or needs you have," McGrane says. "How your coach responds, and the overall conversation that follows, are key ways to gauge how well you might work together." A good coach shouldn't just tell you what to do. They should work with you to create a personalized plan and adjust it along the way, she says.

Williams names several red flags: a coach who "guarantees" results, pressures you to buy supplements, gives you a one-size-fits-all plan or won't clearly state their credentials. McGrane adds that it's a "yellow flag" when a coach wants to overhaul your lifestyle overnight. "While some individuals like and do well with drastic changes, a coach should spend time getting to know the person and what's actually safe and realistic for them, starting with small, gradual changes," she says.

AI health coaching differs from a generic chatbot. A well-built AI coach analyzes your data, looks for patterns and uses them to make recommendations. A chatbot typically answers only the question in front of it and doesn't take additional data into account. Even a well-built AI coach shouldn't replace a professional's care or advice, though.

NoomDigital health platforms like Noom let you tailor your weight loss journey to the tier that fits your needs. The Noom Weight program includes Welli, an AI-powered personal health assistant that can answer general health and nutrition questions, suggest recipes and food swaps and encourage healthy habits and behavior changes. On request, Welli can connect you with a group of Noom coaches for any questions, guidance or support that come up.

Noom also offers a free baseline tier with select health tracking features and food logging, but no coaching. For 1:1 coaching, you'll want to upgrade to Noom Premium. Premium includes Welli plus a dedicated coach who can help you understand your eating and exercise habits, set and track personal goals, stay motivated and adapt as your journey progresses.

Kelli McGrane, MS, registered dietitian and Yahoo senior wellness writer

Laura Williams, MS, ACSM EP-C, certified exercise physiologist and Yahoo senior health editor

Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.