Written by Valerie Lawson

What I have learned this month is that the perception of what balance means may be one of the greatest barriers towards achieving better health status. As health professionals, we help clients understand the need for regular physical activity, healthier eating, and for spiritual and social interactions in order to achieve balance in their lives. Yet many of the people I come in contact with perceive balance in their current lives as "survival" mode, with a focus on shelter, safety, and immediate health conditions.

Health professionals must offer methods, programs, referrals, suggestions, and support to help clients develop a healthier perception of balance which includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, and can lead to an improved quality of life. Ultimately, assisting them to develop a holistic concept of balance within their lives is a lifetime of work that, with the assistance of other health professionals, I hope to continue to provide for persons who are obese and have mobility disabilities.