I work closely with a number of pediatric dieticians. Their involvement is key in managing the obese children that have become a daily occurrence in my clinic. All of them are skilled but one stands above the rest. This particular dietician seems to have better outcomes. Her patients do what they’re supposed to do: they’re compliant and they lose weight.
So what does she do so well that makes things work? She’s absolutely passionate about overweight and she motivates children and parents to change their lives. Some dieticians simply counsel, others stand up and engage in relationships that change lifestyles.
I’ve wondered whether overweight families and their dietary dysfunction would best be served by obesity coaches. This new allied professional would be something of a dietician-psychologist hybrid, or life-coach for the obese. And if the results I’ve seen with one passionate dietician are any indication of potential, it’s hard to believe that it wouldn’t be cost effective.