THE ROLE OF THE BEHAVIORAL COUNSELOR IN OBESITY TREATMENT

This review summarizes the role of behavioral counselors in obesity tr eatment. Behavioral counselors, who are often also registered dietitia ns, provide multidisciplinary treatment teams with expertise in the mo dification of diet and physical activity behaviors. Behavioral counsel ors use a variety of behavior-change strategies aimed at modifying obe sity-related behaviors. The first step is to establish a collaborative alliance that will facilitate adherence and behavior change. Then, mu ltiple intervention-related strategies can be used to further enhance adherence to treatment and elicit behavior change. These strategies in clude self-monitoring, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, stre ss management, social support, physical activity, and relapse preventi on. Interventions that incorporate these strategies are effective in p roducing gradual and moderate weight loss in persons with obesity.