Health coaching app lets users choose between gentle encouragement and drill sergeant rigor

Health app Vida is now connecting users to personal coaches that suit their style through one-to-one live video chats.

Consumers can often have trouble sticking to dieting or exercise plans because they don't have motivation that a coach can provide. The problem is that not everyone reacts well to the same type of coaching. The strict military type might work for one person, but will just put others off. Health app Vida is now connecting users to personal coaches that suit their style through one-to-one live video chats.

Those signing up to Vida can select the health programs — formulated by medical professionals — that they want to follow, whether it's to lose weight, get fit, reduce stress or manage existing health conditions. Before they're connected with an expert, users can also choose one of 6 styles of coaching — cheerleader, drill sergeant, innovator, listener, challenger or analyzer. Vida then uses an algorithm to match each user with the best coach for them, with whom they can contact via text, phone or video chats on a 24/7 basis. The app also lets users track their progress and share it easily with their coach. The service costs USD 15 a week.

We recently wrote about Rise, another app that's enabling one-on-one chats with diet experts through smartphones, indicating that there's certainly a demand for this type of interaction. But are there other ways to make sure that users are connecting to the coaches that are best for them?