<< Back June 2005

Health & Nutrition
Losing Weight - An Individual Matter
By Lucha Pitman

I was relaxed, having just finished my workout at the gym. Coming home I turned on the car radio and was immersed in the resonant sounds of the Concerto of Aranjuez. The beautiful music filled my spirit with strength and color.

Almost immediately I began to think about the class I had just finished. My mind flies to one of my classmates. She always arrives late, walks to the front and places herself close to the teacher. I am sure that she has a reason for always arriving after the class has started.

I think I admire her because she has the guts to do what many of us are not capable of doing. On the other hand, I ask myself if my other classmates share my admiration. Probably not.

Our Uniqueness

As the notes of the Concerto de Aranjuez were increasing in intensity, my thoughts turned to the uniqueness of each one of us. We all have our little quirks and impulsive behaviors, all in our own individual fashion.

This uniqueness that is with us in every act of our lives made me think of how different is every person that I have seen in all my years as a dietitian. When I am working with a client, I interact with another human being who has all the similarities and differences with my own way of doing things.

It sounds simple. One person (A) wants to know a little more about nutrition or wants to have a more healthy weight. I (call me B) am going to teach person A. The knowledge I have to teach is simple: We gain weight when we eat more than we need.

We have two ways to loose weight: the first one is to reduce the intake of food without endangering our health and the second way is to increase our physical activity in order to close the gap between what we need and what we eat. A combination of both ways is the ideal if we want to make our health part of our life's goals.

Is it Simple?

Why doesn't it work if it is so simple? This question preoccupies the public health officials in the United States above all else. Alarming statistics show that the U.S. population is increasingly overweight.

What is it that prevents most of us from achieving our adequate weight? If we can solve this problem, it will result in fewer illnesses and deaths associated with overweight.

Could it be that we have forgotten a part of the equation? In our desire to bring down the statistics relating to overweight, we have forgotten that A and B (client and instructor) are unique individuals. Each one has his or her own set of values and behavior.

A Very Personal Matter

When we speak of nutrition, we are dealing with a very personal matter. We need to understand why a person eats the way she does or why she doesn't do such simple things as go to the play in the park with the kids or play ball with them a half an hour each day. It is not so easy to understand these things.

I believe that if we want to resolve the problem of being overweight, we have the power to do it within ourselves. We can choose to make personal health one of the most important parts of our life, as well as to make small but significant changes in our patterns of eating and physical activity.

I have learned over time that the best way to introduce changes in individual behavior and habits is to treat the patient as an individual. That means giving them the responsibility to determine their individual food objectives and physical activity. Although it may appear to be a very small goal, if it is accomplished, they feel empowered because they feel proud and respected. This approach has given me the opportunity to observe significant changes in the eating habits of my clients.

Worthwhile Effort

I believe that this effort is worthwhile for various reasons. As a part of the equation, I am willing to listen and to respect the decisions of my patients. They, as the other component of the equation, are achieving their own health goal. Thus they demonstrate to themselves that they are strong enough to reach their own objectives and dreams and also become an example for their own families.

The Concerto de Aranjuez has ended and I have returned to my daily tasks. The next time that I see my classmate, I am going to thank her for reminding me that each one of us is unique.

Lucha Pitman is a registered dietitian. You may contact her at malugre@hotmail.com