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Sharon Zarabi 2024: Appreciation of the Human Body

Meet Sharon Zarabi, a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (RD, CDN), and Certified Personal Fitness Trainer (IFPA, AFAA). With a foundation in sports and a lifelong passion for food, Sharon integrates her expertise in nutrition, fitness, and wellness to inspire lasting lifestyle changes. Her career spans diverse roles, from running an internationally renowned weight loss surgery program at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City to building out wellness programs for women's health across every age and stage of life. A published author and media contributor, Sharon is committed to educating and empowering individuals to achieve balance through informed, holistic choices in health and fitness. DeliveryRank offers you an exclusive interview.

Sharon, how has your journey in sports and fitness shaped the way you approach health and wellness today?

Growing up, I was never a star athlete. I played sports more as a way to stay busy and out of trouble. As one of five children, my mother always kept me occupied since her hands were full taking care of everyone else. I grew up surrounded by boys—brothers and cousins—which meant I had to keep up with them by joining in their sport. This environment pushed me to try and fit in through physical activities.

I attended a very small private school where sports weren’t emphasized, but when I transitioned to a public high school, sports became incredibly appealing to me. At first, I wasn’t in great shape—I was the slowest on the team, the last to finish the mile, and mostly warmed the bench. Unlike many of the other girls on the team, I lacked the extra training and athletic background. However, that realization motivated me to train harder and take better care of my body. Over the years, from freshman to senior year, I dedicated myself to improving through extra practice and conditioning.

During this time, I also attended dance classes after school for additional activity. One of the studios I danced at was located inside a gym. While waiting for my mother to pick me up—often late due to her busy schedule—I’d explore the gym and experiment with the weight equipment. I was likely the youngest person there, lifting dumbbells and trying out different machines. The gym quickly became a sanctuary for me, a place I felt at home and spent considerable time.

When it came time to apply for college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that involved helping people. I considered psychology, teaching, or medicine—physical therapy and physician assistant roles especially appealed to me. Limited to universities within a specific radius, I chose New York University (NYU), which was far enough from home to feel independent yet close enough to fit within my parents’ guidelines.

At an NYU orientation, I discovered their nutrition program and decided to give it a try. As an athlete, I had developed an appreciation for the human body and understood the importance of nourishing it with the right foods from the inside out. Nutrition aligned perfectly with my interests in health, fitness, and medicine. As a child of immigrant parents, hard work and independence instilled in me values that kept me working in between my studies. In my college years I became a certified fitness trainer and aerobics instructor.  Oh… the high of helping others achieve their wellness goals and still kicking b*tt.   NO matter how tired I was, I left my personal weight at the door and showed up for my students in the studio.  There was nothing more fulfilling than that. 

Throughout my journey, I was inspired and encouraged by many individuals who helped me achieve things I never thought possible. Fast forward to today, I am recognized as an expert in obesity and weight management, a field where I continue to merge my passion for health, fitness, and changing lives. I play psychologist,educator, motivator and food lover all at the same time.  I was able to blend all aspects of desirable careers into one.  

As someone deeply passionate about both food and fitness, how do you encourage clients to create a balanced lifestyle that feels authentic to them?

I connect with people by speaking their language, especially in today’s diet culture, where the focus is often on restriction. Many associate health or weight loss with exclusion and deprivation, but my approach is inclusive. Food holds a central place in our lives—it’s a source of connection and community that brings us together. For me, that connection began at home, watching my mother cook. She exposed me to the entire process—washing, chopping, preparing, and serving food that only brought joy to those she served. That hands-on experience created a deeper respect for food, something I believe is often lost today in a hurried, fast-paced society where meals are ordered via apps and delivered to desks eaten alone…By the way…NEVER EAT ALONE!

My philosophy emphasizes a holistic relationship with food and the body. It’s about identifying behavioral changes that lead to a renewed respect for the body. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with diverse groups—from athletes who view their bodies as tools for peak performance to individuals with significant disordered eating patterns, including those struggling with obesity, depression, or trauma. For over 15 years, I led a weight loss surgery program at a hospital and saw how many people were disconnected from their bodies, often stemming from emotional pain or trauma.

This contrast—between those who deeply respect their bodies and those who feel disconnected from them—has shaped my understanding of why people eat the way they do. Rather than prescribing what to eat because it’s “healthy,” I focus on understanding how they appreciate food.  With those who struggle with managing weight, I find they have a love hate relationship with it. By fostering trust, a no judgment zone and addressing the underlying reasons behind their eating habits, I’ve been able to help clients build a healthier connection to their bodies. This approach, which blends nutritional guidance with psychological insight, has been key to my success. In many ways, I feel like a “food therapist,” helping clients explore the “why” behind their choices rather than simply dictating the “what.”

What inspired you to pursue a career in nutrition, and how do you see it as a tool for empowering others to "create" their healthiest selves?

Food is inherently powerful—it can either support healing or contribute to disease. Every ingredient we consume creates an impact, and it's vital to prioritize foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Unfortunately, modern society heavily relies on packaged and processed foods loaded with unnecessary additives. For instance, the bread we eat today is vastly different from what it was just a few decades ago, shaped by changes in farming practices and food policies.

In my view, these shifts have contributed significantly to the rising prevalence of obesity, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune conditions. Many of these issues stem from metabolic disorders, yet our approach to health often isolates symptoms. For example, we attribute heart disease to stress or high blood pressure and address it with medication, or we oversimplify obesity by advising people to exercise more and eat less. These siloed solutions fail to address the root causes.

Eating is essential to survival, and we need better education on how our choices impact overall health and wellness. It's not just about what we eat but understanding the profound role food plays in shaping our well-being.

How do you help clients shift from a mindset of self-discovery to actively creating a sustainable, health-focused lifestyle?

I aim to connect with people by asking thoughtful questions that allow me to truly understand them as individuals. One of my favorite questions is, "Why are you here? What brought you to me?" This often opens the door to deeper conversations, revealing their core motivations. Whether it's a desire to see their grandchildren, breathe more easily, or fit into a plane seat without needing an extender, these reasons are deeply personal and powerful.

Once these emotions and motivations come to the surface, I work to identify the obstacles that have held them back. My approach is not about simply telling them what to do; instead, it’s about understanding why they struggle to achieve their goals and equipping them with the tools and strategies they, personally need to succeed. Everyone has a story and this personalized and empathetic approach allows me to address the root of the problem and help them move forward effectively.

What advice would you give to someone looking to redefine their relationship with food and fitness, and take control of their health journey?

During the initial session with clients, I focus on helping them become more present and aware of their habits, as awareness is often the first step toward meaningful change. Many individuals don’t realize the extent of their behaviors—they eat on the go, neglect to read food labels, or fail to be mindful of their eating environments. I provide a brief overview of the goals we’ll work toward together, starting with an emphasis on paying attention to their current actions.

This involves simple but impactful questions: Are they reading food labels and considering the nutritional value of their choices? Are they eating meals while standing or at their desk, or are they sitting down and fully engaging with their food and surroundings? Is their plate balanced with dark leafy greens and whole foods, or is it dominated by refined carbohydrates? Are they skipping meals, or are they eating at regular intervals to keep their body fueled?

By encouraging clients to reflect on these aspects, they can better understand where they currently stand and identify areas for improvement. From there, we collaboratively map out the steps necessary to achieve their goals, building awareness as the foundation for long-term change.

How do you guide clients in navigating the emotional and psychological challenges that come with transforming their lifestyle, particularly when it involves unlearning long-held beliefs about food and fitness, and creating a new, healthier identity?

The greatest challenge—and what makes my work so fulfilling—is guiding people through the transformative journey of change. It's a process that often begins with addressing emotional and stress management, as many of my clients turn to food as a way to cope with stress or emotional triggers without realizing it.

Together, we explore techniques to break these cycles. For instance, I introduce breathing exercises to help them pause and regain control, suggest alternative actions like taking a walk instead of heading straight to the refrigerator, and encourage avoiding impulse shopping that brings less nourishing foods into the home. Teaching them to read and understand food labels is another key step, enabling them to make more informed choices about what they consume and whether they want certain ingredients in their body.

Incorporating movement and exercise is equally important—whether it’s yoga, Pilates, or simple activities that fit their lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be extreme, like training for a marathon; the focus is on small, achievable, and measurable goals that build momentum. Celebrating each incremental victory during our sessions is essential, as every step forward brings them closer to their ultimate goal. These consistent affirmations of progress foster a sense of achievement and motivation to keep moving forward.

If you would like to find out more about Sharon Zarabi, please visit http://www.sharonzarabi.com/


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