Phone-based coaching appears to be a practical way to help adults with metabolic syndrome build healthier habits. According to research reviewed by Gram, a 2026 feasibility study of 27 adults found that 23 completed all 10 coaching sessions, and average daily steps rose by 974 after six months.
Gram Research analysis of a new 2026 study suggests that short phone coaching sessions may help adults with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that includes high blood pressure, large waist size, and high blood sugar. Twenty-seven adults received basic health education plus eight weekly phone coaching sessions and two follow-up calls, delivered by a physiotherapist. Nearly all sessions were completed, with 98% attendance. After six months, participants walked about 974 more steps per day on average, their waistlines shrank by about 2.2 centimeters, and they reported better quality of life and diet habits. Because the study had no comparison group and was small, these results are promising but not yet proof that the approach works. Researchers recommend a larger randomized trial to confirm the benefits and to determine whether the program is cost-effective.
Key Statistics
A 2026 feasibility study of 27 adults with metabolic syndrome found that 23 of 24 participants who started completed all 10 telephone motivational interviewing sessions, a 98% attendance rate.
In the same 2026 study, adults with metabolic syndrome increased their average daily steps by 974 after six months, with a 95% confidence range of 102 to 1,847 steps.
The 2026 study also found that participants’ waist circumference decreased by about 2.2 centimeters over six months, though the study had no comparison group.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Researchers wanted to know whether a phone-based coaching program, called motivational interviewing, could be carried out successfully with adults who have metabolic syndrome. They also looked at whether it seemed to improve health habits and body measurements.
- Who participated: Twenty-seven adults with metabolic syndrome joined the study. Out of 58 people who were eligible, 47% agreed to take part. Everyone received the same basic health education and then phone coaching.
- Key finding: Coaching was delivered as planned, and 23 of the 24 people who started finished all 10 sessions. After six months, participants walked about 974 more steps per day on average, and their waist size dropped by about 2.2 centimeters. Because the study had no comparison group, these changes cannot be confidently attributed to the coaching alone.
- What it means for you: Phone coaching may be a practical, low-cost way to build more movement and healthier eating habits if you have metabolic syndrome. Talk with your doctor before starting any new exercise or diet plan, especially if you take medication for blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol.
The Research Details
This was a feasibility study, which means its main goal was to test whether a program could work in practice before running a larger trial. Every participant received the same program, so there was no separate group that went without coaching for comparison. The researchers used a mix of numbers and personal interviews to get a fuller picture.
Participants first received a short session on health guidelines for diet, activity, and lifestyle. They then had eight weekly phone calls with a trained physiotherapist, who used a style of conversation called motivational interviewing. This approach helps people explore their own reasons for change instead of being told what to do. Two follow-up booster calls were added later.
The team tracked how many people signed up, how many finished the sessions, how well the coaching followed the planned method, whether participants found it acceptable, and whether there were any side effects. Health measurements like waist size, steps, and quality of life were taken at the start and again at six months.
A feasibility study is an important first step. It shows whether people will sign up, finish the program, and find it workable before a team spends money on a large, expensive trial. It also helps estimate costs, which matters for health services deciding whether to fund a program.
Measuring changes from the start to the end for each person is useful here because it gives an early sense of whether the program is worth testing further. However, because there was no comparison group, the study cannot show how much of the change came from coaching compared with other factors such as the passage of time or simply being monitored.
The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means outside experts reviewed it before publication. The coaching sessions were checked by trained raters using a standard scoring tool, which strengthens confidence that the coaching was delivered as intended.
However, the sample was small, with only 27 participants, and there was no control group. The people who volunteered may also have been more motivated than the general population. These factors mean the results are useful for planning, but they are not strong enough to prove the program works.
What the Results Show
The most encouraging result was how well the program ran. Twenty-four people started the program, and 23 completed all 10 coaching sessions, meaning almost everyone who began stayed with it. The coaches followed the planned method closely, which suggests the program can be delivered consistently by trained health professionals.
For physical changes, participants increased their average daily steps by about 974 steps after six months. The range of likely values was wide, from about 102 to 1,847 extra steps per day, so the true effect could be smaller or larger. Waist circumference decreased by about 2.2 centimeters on average, with a likely range of about 0.1 to 4.3 centimeters of reduction.
Participants also reported better quality of life and improved diet habits. These were measured by self-report, which can be influenced by how people feel about the program. Still, the direction of the changes was consistent across several measures.
The program cost about 515 Australian dollars per participant. The researchers could not reliably determine whether the program was cost-effective, meaning whether the health benefits were worth the price, because results varied a lot from person to person.
One participant fell without being injured, and one person withdrew from the study. The team did not report any serious side effects from the coaching itself.
Research on lifestyle coaching for metabolic syndrome has generally found that helping people change their diet and activity can improve waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar. This study adds to that work by showing that a phone-based version, which is cheaper and easier to deliver than in-person programs, can be carried out with high attendance. Its findings are consistent with the broader idea that motivational support helps people stick with healthy changes, though larger studies are needed to confirm this specific approach.
The biggest limitation is the lack of a comparison group. Without one, it is impossible to know whether the changes were caused by the coaching or would have happened anyway. The sample was also small, with only 27 people, and they may have been more motivated than most adults with metabolic syndrome.
Another limitation is that the study only followed participants for six months, so it is unclear whether the benefits would last. The cost-effectiveness results were uncertain, and some measures, like diet and quality of life, relied on self-reporting. The researchers themselves say a larger randomized trial with longer follow-up is needed.
The Bottom Line
Based on this early study, phone-based motivational coaching appears to be a workable approach for adults with metabolic syndrome, and it may support more daily activity and a smaller waist. Confidence in these benefits is low to moderate for now, because the study was small and had no comparison group. Confidence that the program can be delivered as planned is higher, since attendance and coaching quality were strong. Anyone considering this approach should work with a health professional to set goals that fit their medical needs.
Adults who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, along with their doctors and health providers, may find this research useful. Health services that are deciding whether to fund low-cost programs may also want to follow the next steps. People without metabolic syndrome, or those who already get regular coaching through a health program, will likely learn less from these specific findings.
In this study, changes in steps and waist size were measured after six months. Most people who make gradual changes in activity and diet can expect to notice small improvements in energy and daily habits within a few weeks. Measurable changes in waist size or blood markers usually take several months of consistent effort, and results vary widely between individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can phone coaching help people with metabolic syndrome walk more?
A 2026 feasibility study of 27 adults found that average daily steps increased by about 974 after six months of telephone motivational coaching. The results were promising, but the study had no comparison group, so larger trials are needed to confirm the effect.
What is metabolic syndrome and how is it treated?
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors, including large waist size, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol, that together raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Treatment often focuses on more physical activity, healthier eating, and weight management, guided by a health professional.
How effective is motivational interviewing for changing health habits?
Motivational interviewing is a conversation style that helps people explore their own reasons for change. In a 2026 feasibility study, 98% of scheduled sessions were attended, and coaches delivered the method competently, though the study did not test its effect against a control group.
Does losing a few centimeters of waist size matter for health?
Waist size is a useful indicator of health risk because excess belly fat is linked to metabolic problems. In a 2026 study, participants’ waists decreased by about 2.2 centimeters after six months of coaching, a modest change that should be confirmed in larger, controlled research.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track your average daily steps each week using your phone or wearable device, and record your waist circumference once a month at the same time of day. Also log your weekly coaching or check-in sessions to see how consistently you attend.
- Set a small, realistic step goal, such as adding 500 steps per day above your current average, and build up slowly. Use the app to schedule a weekly check-in call or message with a health coach or support partner to talk through challenges and celebrate progress.
- Review your step counts, waist measurements, and check-in logs every month, and look for trends over three to six months rather than day-to-day changes. Share your summary with your doctor at regular appointments to decide whether your plan needs adjustment.
This article summarizes a small early-stage study and is for general information only. It is not medical advice. The study had no comparison group and was not designed to prove that the program works. Anyone with metabolic syndrome should talk with a doctor or qualified health professional before changing their exercise, diet, or medications.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.