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Deep Dive: Understanding Blood Panels for Coaches

Reading time: ~6 minutes
Prerequisite: Chapter 1.4 (Assessment & Biomarkers)

The Big Picture

Your client walks in with a stack of lab results. "Can you help me understand these?" they ask.

This is a moment that requires clarity, both about what you can do and what you should not do. Blood panels contain valuable information, but interpreting them crosses into medical territory. The line between education and diagnosis isn't always obvious, and getting it wrong has real consequences.

In this deep dive, we'll cover what coaches need to know about blood panels: how to discuss them within scope, when to refer, and the language that keeps you on the right side of professional boundaries.

What You Cannot Do (And Why)

Let's be direct: health coaches do not interpret blood panels.

Both the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) and the UK & International Health Coaching Association (UKIHCA) explicitly state this. Coaches don't diagnose, don't interpret medical data, and don't prescribe treatments based on lab results.

Why such a hard line?

  1. Lab results require clinical context. A "high" value might be normal for that person, or it might signal disease. You can't know without medical training and access to the full clinical picture.

  2. Misinterpretation causes harm. Reassuring someone about an abnormal result could delay necessary treatment. Alarming someone about a normal result could cause unnecessary anxiety and testing.

  3. It's practicing medicine without a license. In most jurisdictions, interpreting labs to inform health decisions is a regulated activity reserved for licensed providers.

  4. It damages the profession. Coaches who overstep erode trust and invite regulation that could limit what legitimate coaches can do.

What You CAN Do: Scope-Safe Approaches

You're not powerless when lab results come up. Here's what you can do:

1. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Instead of interpreting, invite the client to share what they've learned:

  • "What did your doctor say about these results?"
  • "What do these numbers mean to you?"
  • "What questions do you have for your healthcare provider?"

This keeps the interpretation where it belongs: with the clinician, while helping your client process the information.

2. Support Behavior Change (Not Medical Decisions)

If a client says "My doctor wants me to improve my cholesterol," you can absolutely help them:

  • Build sustainable eating habits
  • Develop an exercise routine
  • Manage stress that might affect health markers

You're supporting behavior change based on their provider's guidance, not making medical recommendations based on your interpretation.

3. Provide General Education

You can share publicly available information about what labs measure, without applying it diagnostically to your client:

  • "Fasting glucose measures blood sugar levels after not eating"
  • "HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over about three months"
  • "Lipid panels look at different types of cholesterol"

Education about what a test is differs from telling someone what their specific result means.

4. Encourage Follow-Up

When clients share concerning results or mention they haven't discussed labs with their doctor:

  • "It sounds like it would be helpful to talk this through with your provider"
  • "Would you like to prepare some questions for your next appointment?"
  • "Have you had a chance to review these with your doctor?"

Language That Keeps You Safe

The words you use matter. Here are examples of scope-safe phrasing:

Instead of: "Your A1c is in the prediabetic range, so we need to cut your carbs."

Try: "You mentioned your doctor flagged your A1c. What changes did they suggest? I can help you figure out how to make those work in your life."

Instead of: "These cholesterol numbers look concerning."

Try: "What did your provider say about your lipid panel? If they've recommended changes, I'm here to help you implement them."

Instead of: "Your vitamin D is low. You should supplement with 5,000 IU."

Try: "If your doctor has recommended vitamin D supplementation, we can talk about how to fit that into your routine."

Instead of: "I don't see anything to worry about here."

Try: "I'm not qualified to interpret labs, but I can help you prepare questions for your provider if you'd like."

Red Flags: When to Refer Immediately

Some situations require immediate referral, not coaching:

  • New symptoms with lab results (chest pain, severe fatigue, unexplained weight loss)
  • Markedly abnormal values: Triglycerides >500 mg/dL, fasting glucose >126 mg/dL, A1c in diabetic range (≥6.5%)
  • Client has not seen a provider about abnormal results
  • Client is making medical decisions based on your input
  • You feel pressure to interpret or recommend treatments

When in doubt, refer. A good referral protects your client and your practice.

The Coaching Opportunity

Here's the good news: behavior change coaching actually works for improving biomarkers.

A systematic review of 41 randomized trials found that health coaching produced:

  • 0.30 percentage point reduction in HbA1c (meaningful for glycemic control)
  • 0.52 kg/m² reduction in BMI
  • Improvements in physical activity, diet quality, and self-efficacy

You don't need to interpret labs to help your clients improve them. Focus on the behaviors within your scope, and let the biomarkers follow.

Setting Up a Scope-Safe Practice

A few structural choices make staying in scope easier:

1. Use disclaimers upfront

In your intake forms and early sessions:

"I don't interpret medical data or lab results. If you'd like to share results your provider has discussed with you, I can help support any lifestyle changes they've recommended."

2. Document referrals

When you encourage a client to see a provider, note it. This protects both of you.

3. Build your referral network

Know the physicians, dietitians, and specialists in your area. A warm handoff to a trusted provider is valuable for your clients.

4. Create clear boundaries in your agreements

Your coaching agreement should specify that you don't diagnose or interpret medical data.

What This Means for Coaches

  • Stay in your lane: Lab interpretation is medical practice, not coaching. The line is clear; respect it.
  • Use questions, not statements: Ask what their provider said, not what you think results mean.
  • Support the plan, not the diagnosis: Help clients implement recommendations, not make medical decisions.
  • Refer early and often: When in doubt, encourage provider follow-up. It's always the right call.
  • Focus on behavior: Coaching demonstrably improves biomarkers through behavior change. That's your superpower.

Key Takeaway

Coaches support behavior change that improves biomarkers, but interpreting those biomarkers is medical practice. Stay in scope by asking questions, supporting provider recommendations, and referring when results need clinical interpretation.

References

  1. National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. Scope of Practice. NBHWC. 2025.
  2. UK & International Health Coaching Association. Scope of Practice for UKIHCA-Approved & Registered Health Coaches. UKIHCA. 2025.
  3. Gierisch JM, et al. The Effectiveness of Health Coaching: A Systematic Review. VA Evidence Synthesis Program. 2017.
  4. Rutjes HVI, et al. The Influence of Personal Health Data on the Health Coaching Process. Frontiers in Big Data. 2022.
  5. Spencer Institute. What Can a Health and Wellness Coach Learn from a Client's Lab Results? Spencer Institute. 2022.
  6. American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Health and Nutrition Coach's Guide to Referring Clients for Medical Evaluation. AFPA. 2023.
  7. Precision Nutrition. Effective Coach Talk: What to say to clients and why it matters. Precision Nutrition. 2020.
  8. Fullscript. Getting started with labs for health coaches. Fullscript. 2025.