Nutrition Case Studies

A 35-year-old female presented with obesity and a history of multiple dieting attempts. She reported she had a poor relationship with food and used it to cope with stress and emotions. After years of feeling out of control with food and a profound sense of failure she reached out to The Nutrition Professionals because she had tried everything else.

She was educated on sound nutrition principles with a foundation of three balanced meals a day with an adjustment in portion sizes, with bi-monthly visits with her RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist). At each visit, small achievable goals related to diet and lifestyle were set and monitored.

As a result, she has learned to cook healthy meals that nourish her body and learned how to incorporate more physical activity into her life that she enjoys. Her relationship with food and her body has changed drastically in a positive direction; this has resulted in a weight loss of 100 lbs and counting. She continues to meet with her RDN regularly.

A 76-year-old health care professional presented with Irritable Bowel Syndrome type C and D. She reported her bowel movements have dictated her whole adult life, as stress exacerbated her symptoms. She shared several stories about how she, in preparation for a stressful work event, would not eat for up to 12 hours to hopefully hold off symptoms so she could get through the event.

She stated she is in the bathroom at least every hour throughout the day. She reported that she has tried everything. She came to The Nutrition Professionals exhausted, feeling like there were no answers to a lifelong problem.

She was educated on sound nutrition principles, and we started her on an elimination diet to discover what foods she was intolerant to. We employed the FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for certain types of carbohydrates that some people are sensitive to. This is not a diet that should be used without the direction of an RDN.

Within the first week she reported her life had changed and she was feeling incredible. She reports she is able to eat many foods that she enjoys again and finally feels free. The life change manifested as going to the bathroom 1-2 times a day with normal bowel movements, and the constant churning in her stomach is gone. She reports The Nutrition Professionals facilitated a miracle in her life!

A 38-year-old female presented with a diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and obesity. She had attempted to lose weight through restrictive eating many times in her life resulting only in more weight gain and feelings of failure. She reports a poor relationship with food and her body image.

In addition, the pandemic meant she was now responsible for homeschooling her children which upended her exercise regimen. She came to The Nutrition Professionals because her life was full of stressors out of her control, and she did not know where to turn.

She was educated on sound nutrition principles, a supplement regimen beneficial for women with PCOS and regularly scheduled visits with her RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist). Together she and her RDN worked to develop creative solutions that fit into her life; this allowed her to incorporate physical movement, improve her relationship with food, better manage stress, and improve her diet.

This multi-faceted approach has brought about change in her life. She has lost 20 pounds so far, despite the multiple ‘barriers’ in her life and this approach has given her the freedom to make improved food choices without caving to the allure of the ‘quick fix’ of restrictive eating.

She has gained the confidence to trust that she can listen to her body and direct her life in a way that benefits her health and well-being. She has learned that small nutritional changes sustained over time bring big results. She is thriving in 2021!

A 65-year-old male presented with a diagnosis of stage 4 chronic kidney disease (eGFR 20) in 2016. A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease can lead to dialysis (stage 5).  He came to The Nutrition Professionals because his physicians have been suggesting dialysis treatments, and he just wasn’t ready for that.

He was educated on sound nutrition principles with a foundation of plant-based foods (animal protein has a deleterious effect on declining kidney function). He has adopted a plant-based eating plan and has learned to cook interesting, healthy, meat-free meals. He reports he is enjoying life and loves to go for walks with his dog. Kidney failure is unpredictable and always progressive, but his adherence to a healthy lifestyle and plant-based nutrition continues to keep his kidneys functioning and off dialysis for the past five years, which has surprised his physicians.

A 67-year-old female presented with a new diagnosis of diabetes and stage 3b chronic kidney disease (eGFR 38), as well as obesity. A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure and dialysis (stage 5). She came to The Nutrition Professionals apprehensive about what her future health was going to look like.

She was educated on sound nutrition principles with a foundation of plant-based foods – animal protein has a deleterious effect on kidneys that are in decline. She had regular visits with her registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)  over the course of the past three years. Her labs have shown she is no longer diabetic but has moved into the blood sugar range of “pre-diabetes”. She has shown an improvement in kidney function (eGFR 40) and demonstrated weight loss. She continues to work full time and has been traveling the world.

A 38-year-old female presented with a diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity with a BMI over 60.  She reported a lifetime of weight struggles;  she had a prior gastric surgery that failed and resulted in a rapid weight gain of 200 lbs.

Her eating habits were assessed as poor, and her life was filled with stress. She reported that stress often led to emotional eating. Her physician reported that her health was compromised due to her weight. She came to The Nutrition Professionals feeling defeated.

We worked to educate her on sound nutrition principles with a foundation of three balanced meals a day, with an adjustment in portion sizes. We focused on small achievable goals that were set at regular visits. In nine months, she has dropped 50 pounds and her blood sugars are in the 100s. She reports improved energy and motivation. This has been the most weight she has lost without weight-loss surgery.