Answer
Janeesha has been smoking cigarettes for almost 10 years. Both of her parents were smokers, so she started smoking at about 15 years old. She began with just a few here and there, but gradually worked her way up to about a pack per day. When she first started smoking, she was not concerned about the health risks to her body. She thought it was cool, and many of her friends were also smoking. Now that she’s older, she has seen first-hand what smoking can do. Her mother has been diagnosed with lung cancer and her father is now on oxygen to aid his breathing difficulties caused by his emphysema. In addition, Janeesha was married last year and her new husband is not a smoker. He has encouraged her to stop smoking. He is concerned for her health, and if they choose to have children, he would not want her to smoke during the pregnancy. Janeesha has decided she is ready to stop smoking. She has been attending a smoking cessation class. She has also discussed medication options for smoking cessation with her doctor. One of Janeesha’s concerns about quitting is the weight gain that many people experience. Janeesha is African American, and she is currently 5 ft 2 in tall and 140 lbs. She knows she is already slightly overweight, but likes her fuller figure. Her husband thinks she is beautiful at her current weight. However, she does not want to gain more weight and create additional health problems as she stops smoking. In discussing her concerns with her doctor, he suggests that Janeesha make an appointment with a dietitian to have some nutritional education as well as her calorie needs calculated. Janeesha is hopeful that the dietitian may also give her some suggestions for healthier meals and snacks.