Supporting someone on their weight loss journey can be a delicate balance. It involves understanding their needs, providing encouragement and avoiding any actions that might come off as nagging or judgmental. 

Registered dietitian Kimmie Sharp, MMN, RDN, LMNT, LD, who works with patients at the Nebraska Medicine Bariatrics Center, shares some tips and insight.

1. Understand their needs

The first step in supporting someone trying to lose weight is understanding their specific needs. Sharp emphasizes the importance of asking for their feedback. 

“It can really help to ask, ‘How can I best support you?’” she says. “Do you need a cheerleader? Someone to talk through challenges? Someone to just listen?”

Open communication is key to offering the right kind of support.

2. Offer emotional support

Try to offer emotional support without causing additional pressure or stress. Sharp suggests asking open-ended questions like, “How do you feel this change has been going for you?” This approach prevents a sense of judgment and helps the person feel understood and supported.

3. Promote healthy eating habits

Encouraging healthy eating habits without being overbearing is another important aspect. Sharp recommends focusing on what can be added to the diet rather than what needs to be eliminated. 

“When I have someone initiating their weight loss journey with me, we talk about adding protein and adequate fiber from different produce at meals,” she says. “So, it’s having that positive mentality and saying, ‘How is this going to help fuel our bodies?”

4. Encourage realistic goals

Setting realistic goals is essential for sustainable weight loss. Sharp advises against the all-or-nothing mentality. Instead, she suggests setting small, manageable goals, like reducing soda intake gradually rather than cutting it out immediately.

“Friends and family can support these goals by checking in on them periodically and celebrating the small victories along the way,” Sharp says.

5. Provide accountability

Accountability is a key component in weight loss success, Sharp says, adding, “The type of accountability is going to depend on what works best for the person looking to lose weight.” 

Some might prefer regular check-ins with a health care professional, while others might benefit from sharing their progress with a friend or having a workout buddy. Asking how you can help with accountability can make a big difference.

6. Help overcome obstacles

Support systems can be invaluable when overcoming common obstacles like weight loss plateaus. Sharp advises keeping a nonjudgmental perspective and viewing challenges as puzzles to be solved from different angles. This approach can help in finding effective solutions without adding stress.

7. Educate yourself

Educating yourself about the nutritional and psychological aspects of weight loss can enhance your ability to provide support. Sharp suggests starting with reliable resources like Eatright.org and U.S. News & World Report’s diet rankings. Understanding the complexities of weight loss will help you offer more informed and compassionate support.

8. Avoid common misconceptions

Sharp says supporters should be aware of many misconceptions about weight loss.

“The most common one is the thought that this is going to be a diet,” she says. “When I work with patients and folks supporting them, they think, ‘I'm going to change things up as I'm losing weight and then get back to normal once I reach my goal.’ When in truth, it's looking at actual lifestyle changes.”

Sharp also dispels the notion that weight loss is quick and easy, as often portrayed by the media. Realistic expectations and celebrating non-scale victories are important for maintaining motivation and a positive outlook.

9. Seek professional support

Health care professionals can play a crucial role in the individual’s and the support system’s journey. Sharp describes her approach at the Bariatrics Center, where she provides a thorough initial evaluation, sets realistic goals and provides ongoing support. 

“If the individual and their supporters have challenges, we problem solve together about what to do moving forward, and then look at resetting goals and refocusing for the future,” she says.