"White-collar diseases" such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and burnout syndrome are affecting millions of people. Markku Wilenius, a researcher of future trends, believes we need health coaches to teach us how to stay healthy.
 | Markku Wilenius, Senior Vice President for Group Development at Allianz SE"Instead of the standard pile of donuts and bagels on the conference table at a meeting, they could put out a nice bowl of fruit instead." (Photo: Allianz) |
You call for health coaches to help us live better lives. What exactly is a "health coach," and who needs one?
Health coaches are experts who guide individuals or groups toward living a healthy lifestyle. I use the word "guide" very deliberately; although most people today know that exercise is good and fatty foods are bad, they suppress this knowledge in their day-to-day lives.
Many people work so much that they lose all sense of their own bodies. They only use their bodies the way you use a mobile phone or the Internet. They're always on, always set to "receive" – and if their batteries run a little low, they use stimulants to recharge themselves.
Being health-conscious is not a new thing. There are countless publications on health tips. What could a coach add to this information overkill?
True, you'll find a few dozen titles at any bookstore about how to live a healthy life, and the latest nutrition findings are propagated on every TV channel. People watch or read these things and feel a little better – but they haven't actively done anything.
That's why I like the idea of a coach – or, as some like to say, a trainer. We need someone who guides us, lights a fire under us, occasionally scolds us – but most importantly, someone who motivates us. In short, we need someone who helps us to get up and get going.
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Where do you think health coaching should take place?
It is basically happening everywhere right now: Any reputable athletic club will have several health coaches, many health insurance providers offer health coaching, and municipalities and community adult education programs also provide these services.
So there's no shortage of options, many of which are quite inexpensive. People just have to show a little initiative and make that move to get up and get involved. If all you do is park yourself in front of the TV every night with a bag of chips, it won't matter one bit how attractive the available programs are.
So in other words, we can't do anything about overcoming our weaker self?
No, I'm not saying that at all! I just think you have to start by going somewhere where people "can't escape" – a place where they spend the majority of their day – at work.
Health coaches have to go into the workplace. And employers can do their part to subtly remind people of some very basic things. Instead of the standard pile of donuts and bagels on the conference table at a meeting, they could put out a nice bowl of fruit instead. A lot of people will just happen to notice how good an apple really tastes, and how sweet a banana is.
What do employers get out of it?
It's perfectly clear: Health coaching makes a company attractive to the employees who work there. It's fantastic to come home at night and be able to say, "Yes, I've done something good for my health today." Satisfied, healthy workers are a plus for any company. And you don't have to break the bank to get great results.
Let's take my employer, Allianz in Munich. They offer regular fitness programs that people can do in their dress pants and suits. The cafeteria offers at least one entree every day for people who want to eat healthy.The health insurance division of Allianz provides information and workshops to its customers to encourage healthy habits and lifestyles.
And there's a good reason for that. After all, prevention can really pay off in the most literal sense of the word. But I'd like to see one more change in a lot of conference and meeting rooms: kiwis instead of cookies!
editor: Markus Walter
publishing date: May 14, 2009
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HEALTH COACH
Your above article is informative. Our organisation, WELHEALTH TEAM strive hard to spread the message of WELLNESS and HOLISTIC HEALTH to individuals and groups by conducting talks,...