A middle-aged female client tells you that whenever she is stressed she binges on fast food. In the past year since starting a new job she has gained excessive weight and her BMI is > 25

Question

She has a family history of hypertension and coronary heart disease. You talk to her about: 1. Only keeping fruits and vegetables in the house so she is not tempted to eat
junk foods.
2. Attending a behavior modification class to learn new coping strategies to
help resist eating when she is stressed.
3. Increasing daily exercise and not worrying about occasional binges with fast
Food.
4. Starting on medication to prevent hypertension since she has a family history of
the disease.

Answer 1

2

Rationale: Home food stores may be helpful but are not a guarantee that the client will change their eating behaviors. Newly acquired coping skills and alternative activities need to be incorporated into healthy lifestyle changes for successful weight loss programs. Exercise is an important component of weight loss programs but must be coupled with healthy eating habits. Prophylaxis with hypertensive medication based on family history is never an option.