Page 187 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

When happy and hungry, foods may present a high-risk situation.
Source: US Department of Agriculture.

Eating cues in the environment, for example, may include holidays, restaurants, and social gatherings where
overeating is socially acceptable. In the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS), examples of high-
risk situations included holidays, restaurant dining, special occasions, and emotional cues.14 Social pressures
from others occur when individuals tempt or coax (“Eat it. Just this once won’t hurt you.”) and when a person
sees others consuming foods not on his or her dietary regimen. (“Everyone else is eating it. Why shouldn’t I?”)

Finally, negative physiologic factors may contribute to relapse. Urges and cravings for foods, feeling of
hunger, fatigue, or headache, may increase the chance of relapse. See Box 8-4 for examples of high-risk
situations.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 3

Using the examples of high-risk situations in Box 8-4, identify those that are high-risk
situations for your own eating.

Physiologic feelings of hunger, fatigue, food cravings, tension, stress
Attending social affairs, parties, eating in restaurants, holidays
Low self-efficacy or inadequate motivation

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