If you’re overweight or obese, working with a local nutritionist can be very helpful. A local nutritionist is a wellness provider who is specially trained in nutritional health and science. A local nutritionist is similar to a local registered dietitian, but usually a local registered dietitian has specific certifications. A local nutritionist can help people who are overweight or obese plan healthy meals to lose weight; understand how many calories they need to eat to lose weight; manage health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis; learn about the glycemic index and how food affects blood sugar, ensure you’re getting enough protein and more. A person is considered obese if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.

A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9; if it’s over 25, you’re overweight. A person who is obese or overweight will probably work with a local family physician as well as other health care providers, such as a local chiropractor, endocrinologist, kinesiologist, cardiologist and registered dietitian. If you’re overweight or obese, you’re at risk of other health conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. If you’d like more info on how a local nutritionist can help you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight, start a conversation with your local family physician.