Graduate Spotlight
Jeni Ellis Halliday, Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition
When she began research for her chosen dissertation topic, “Why Diets Don’t Work,” wellness professional Jeni Halliday learned more than she ever bargained for…and some of it wasn't pretty.
While researching the unsuccessful plight of Americans who report that they are “on a diet,” at that time the current statistics indicated that up to half of the population was overweight or even obese. But by the time she finished her dissertation, Halliday was dismayed to discover a bigger discrepancy: Two out of three American adults are now considered overweight (10 pounds over their ideal body weight) or obese (33% over their ideal body weight).
“Diets don’t work because dieting is a temporary solution to a long-term issue,” she says. "Even the best selling diet books have little or no follow up regarding the success of their product after one year.
“Dieters want to find the quick-fix, even though their habits have been building throughout an entire lifetime. Cookie-cutter approaches to dieting fail because we temporarily try to ban certain types of foods. A better way is to selectively incorporate more foods that are good, while eating less of the high calorie and junk foods and also finding ways to incorporate daily exercise into our lives.
Adults gain an average of 17 pounds per decade, she says, if they consume a mere 17 calories more each day than they burn. This, alone, sets us up for a continuous weight gain of almost two pounds each year.
How to substitute low-cal food choices, in order to break old habits? Begin with baby steps. For instance, Halliday teaches clients to choose skim milk, cook with less fats, substitute plain yogurt for sour cream, eat baked chips rather than fried, and corn tortillas instead of white flour tortillas. That way, no one ever misses those 17 calories. Weighing once a week will help people be aware of a few pounds before they become 10.
Good nutrition for children poses its own challenges, she says, adding that her 10-year-old and 14-year-old have been known to rebel if given too much structure. It’s better to let kids make some of the same junk food choices as their peers – but emphasizing that these choices can be occasional treats, not constant substitutes for eating real food. “At restaurants, watch how the wait staff will endlessly refill a child's soda glass. How much better it is for kids to drink pure water instead.”
Exercise, she emphasizes, it is critical for bodies of all ages.
The Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes of activity each day, and Halliday encourages clients to choose something that they already enjoy and can look forward to. One of her own exercise choices is Nia, Neuromuscular Integrated Action, a 20 year old dance form that combines no-impact aerobics and strength training with conscious mind / body awareness and appreciation.
Jeni Halliday recently visited her alma mater, leading a Nia class for Clayton College staff members. “I came so that I could thank CCNH, in person, for helping me achieve a life-long dream,” she says.
“My husband and I both work and have many volunteer activities while raising our family. Earning my doctoral degree within the context of our normal daily lives has been a lifetime goal. It was easy for me to stay focused and motivated because each course was so interesting.
“The world of holistic nutrition is vast, empowering and invigorating,” Halliday concludes. “I hope to reorganize parts of my dissertation research into a user-friendly health diary/workbook that offers daily encouragement as people learn to make healthier lifestyle changes.
“As my dissertation proved, there is much more information needed for the public to use to help them achieve their lifetime weight management and health goals.”
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