Case Study #1 - Ben is really good at losing weight. Four different times, he has lost between 10 and 30 lbs! He usually maintains the weight loss for a few weeks or months, but then something happens - the holidays hit, or he gets too busy to exercise, or he has something difficult happen in his personal life, that makes him start gaining weight again. He figures this really is not a problem - he knows he can start dieting and lose the weight again once he gets motivated again.
1. Is it a problem for Ben to keep losing and regaining weight? If so, why?
2. What would you recommend to Ben?
Case Study #2 - At 14, Gina is alarmed by how her body is changing. She has always been bigger than most of her friends, but she seems to have gained a lot of weight around her abdomen in the past year. At her last medical examination, her doctor commented that she should try to lose weight. Her parents both work, so most days she is home alone for a couple of hours after school. Her neighborhood is not very safe, so she usually stays indoors and does homework or chats with friends online. She usually snacks on granola bars, pretzels, and soda while she waits for her parents to come home and cook dinner. Gina is thinking that she would like to lose a significant amount of weight before she starts high school in 5 months.
1. What would you tell Gina about her desire to lose weight before starting high school.
2. What types of changes would you recommend to Gina?