"Exercise more." For decades, this recommendation has been delivered by millions of physicians to millions of patients — without specifics on activity type, intensity, or the supervision needed. 2026 data clearly shows the limits of this approach: after 6 months, only 30% of patients enrolled in a classic gym maintain regular practice. With individual coaching, this figure rises to 70%.[3]
The problem is not sport. It is the absence of structure. A 55-year-old diabetic patient, deconditioned for 10 years, who receives a prescription for "30 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week" has no way of knowing whether what they are doing is correct, sufficient, or adapted to their limitations. They have no one to answer to. And in an anonymous gym, faced with complex machines and people in visibly better shape, they will statistically abandon before the end of the first month.
| Classic gym | Individual coaching | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment | ❌ None | ✓ Full evaluation |
| Personalised programme | ❌ Generic | ✓ Condition-adapted |
| Supervision during exercise | ❌ Absent | ✓ Constant |
| Comorbidity adaptation | ❌ No | ✓ Integrated |
| Communication with physician | ❌ Not possible | ✓ Possible |
| Swiss insurance coverage | ⚠ Partial (membership) | ✓ Up to CHF 1,300/year |
| Injury risk | ⚠ High without follow-up | ✓ Reduced |
| 6-month adherence | ~30% | ~70% |
Many physicians are unaware — or do not inform their patients — that individual sports coaching can be partially or fully reimbursed by Swiss supplementary insurance.
Essential condition for reimbursement
The coach must be certified — Fitness Guide label or Swiss Olympic recognition. In Neuchâtel, Forge One Fitness offers health insurance-certified coaching in a private space, reimbursable up to CHF 1,300/year depending on the patient's supplementary cover.
For patients on GLP-1 analogues (semaglutide, tirzepatide), individual coaching is particularly recommended: a 2026 BMJ meta-analysis shows that without structured exercise support, weight returns on average within 1.7 years after stopping treatment. Coaching builds the habits that maintain results long-term.
For patients in French-speaking Switzerland, physicians can direct them to health insurance-certified facilities offering individual coaching adapted to complex medical profiles.
Forge One Fitness — Neuchâtel, Rue de la Maladière 52
✓ Health insurance certified — reimbursable up to CHF 1,300/year depending on supplementary cover
✓ Private fitness space — individual sessions without an intimidating collective environment
✓ Full health assessment on entry — 100% personalised training plan
✓ 200+ people coached · 97 Google reviews 5/5
✓ Free trial session at forgeonefitness.ch/booking
See also our articles on physician burnout in Switzerland and GLP-1 analogues.
How do I direct a patient to a certified sports coach in Switzerland?
Two main criteria: certification (Fitness Guide or Swiss Olympic recognition) and experience with the patient's conditions. For patients with cardiovascular comorbidities, diabetes or obesity, private coaching is preferable. In Neuchâtel for example, Forge One Fitness offers health insurance-certified coaching in a private space, with follow-up adapted to complex medical profiles.
Why is adherence so low in classic gyms?
Four main factors: lack of structure and accountability, insufficient personalisation, intimidating environment for deconditioned or overweight patients, and no progress tracking. Individual coaching resolves all four problems simultaneously — which is why follow-up data shows adherence rates two to three times higher at 6 months.
Is sports coaching covered by Swiss basic insurance?
No. The basic insurance (LAMal) does not cover sports coaching. However, most Swiss supplementary insurers — Helsana, SWICA, Sanitas, CSS, KPT — reimburse CHF 300 to 800 per year for activities with certified coaches or centres. The main condition is that the provider holds certification (Fitness Guide, Swiss Olympic or equivalent).
Can I prescribe individual coaching as a non-pharmacological therapy?
Yes. The physician can write an adapted physical activity (APA) prescription specifying the recommended type of supervision. For patients with long-term conditions or documented cardiovascular risk, this prescription is the best lever for triggering reimbursement by the supplementary insurer and motivating the patient. A written prescription significantly increases adherence — it gives medical legitimacy to physical activity.
Prescription note, coach follow-up letter, SOAP note — automatically generated. Hosted in Switzerland, nFADP and GDPR compliant.
Try free →