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Proposal:
Discontinue Weight Loss Counseling |
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REASONING |
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Lack of effectiveness |
- 95%
to 98% of persons who lose weight will regain lost weight and
more
- Weight
cycling
- Shift
in body fat distribution
- Psychological
effects
|
|
Ethics |
- Cannot
continue to provide an ineffective, potentially harmful service
- Cannot
continue to stigmatize obesity, especially when we don't know
how to react to it
|
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Budget
constraints & quality of care |
-
Current
approach is poor use of health care dollars
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|
Suggested
new approach: HUGS |
- 10
week skills training program that focuses on health and self
acceptance rather than dieting and weight loss
- Individuals
accomplish a gradual lifestyle shift that maximizes full health
potential
- Program
is delivered in a counselling workshop format that includes nutrition
education and attitudinal analysis methods. The sessions show
participants how to break the diet cycle and rebuild a confident
new lifestyle.
|
|
Uses |
|
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Group Setting |
- Aimed
at chronic dieters ( obese and non-obese)
- A
healthier choice for current users of inappropriate services
- Group
support emphasized, follow up post program support groups using
Staying Off the Diet Roller Coaster, and continued services provided
for HUGS graduates via optional support listserve.
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|
Individual* |
- Non-dieters
- Persons
with elevated cholesterol
- Type
2 Diabetes
- Potential
vegetarians
*
Note: Individual counseling may only cover certain aspects of
the 10 week program and may be supplemented with other appropriate
tools at the discretion of the dietitian.
The
important point here is that focus is shifted away from weight
loss as a prime measure of success.
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Concluding Remarks |
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As
health professionals we need to:
- Ask
ourselves if we are indeed providing objective services if we
continue to provide treatments that are ineffective.
- Challenge
the assumption that weight loss is necessary to reduce one's
risk for disease.
- Be
CONSISTENT with our message.
- Offer
a healthy alternative to traditional approaches.
"If
you cannot help, at least do no harm." |
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