With more than half of the U.S. population considered obese or overweight, obesity has truly become an epidemic, increasing the risk of major illness and death. Due to poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, obesity in adults is climbing along with the risks of developing Type 2 diabetes. Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, self-esteem issues, depression...all are associated with obesity and the cause of major health complications.

The wellness team at the Bald Head Island Center for Wellness has designed a unique program that can MAKE A DIFFERENCE in your life with PROVEN RESULTS!
Our comprehensive approach to weight management, including nutritional, aerobic, and behavioral interventions will help develop skills and practice strategies needed to take control of food and weight management.

Bald Head Island's Center for Wellness offers an unparalleled combination of nutrition, exercise and behavioral health instruction focused on complete, overall health. The Center teaches day-to-day tools for healthier living that delivers an overall lifestyle change. The Center's holistic approach is coordinated by our wellness team—a registered dietitian, behavioral therapist, personal trainer, chef and wellness coach. Each health professional brings a unique approach to ensure a supportive weight loss environment that will motivate you to achieve a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

One of the hallmarks of the Bald Head Island Center for Wellness is our focus on personalization. Because attendance at the Wellness Retreat is capped at 10, each participant receives a great deal of individual attention, encouragement and assistance throughout the week. Meal plans and exercise programs are tailored to each participant.

Bald Head Center for Wellness has an experienced wellness team ready to assist you with achieving your wellness goals. Meet the leaders of our team:

Our team of wellness specialists include:

Cathie Ostrowski - Owner, MS, RD, LDN, FAND
Cathie is a licensed and registered dietitian who earned her masters degree in nutrition from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York and is the Dietetic Internship Director for Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. Cathie received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year in 2000 and the North Carolina’s Nutrition Educator of the Year award in 2007 and is a Fellow for the National Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.

Cathie has worked with several well-known companies and organizations including: Cisco Systems, North Carolina Pork Council, Ericsson, Biogen Inc., Cary Family YMCA, Rich Products Corporation, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and the New York Universities of Rochester and Syracuse. She also provides nutrition services to several physician offices in Cary, NC and Raleigh, NC.
In addition, Cathie maintains a private nutrition consulting practice that has been serving clients in the community since 1998.

Registered Dietitians have professional credentials and are recognized as the most valuable source of good nutrition advice. Our licensed dietitians provide reliable, up-to-date food and nutrition information. Our dietitians help clients gain a fundamental understanding of adequate nutrition and by conducting daily nutritional counseling.

Behavior Therapists are licensed professional counselors possessing expertise in modifying compulsive and emotional eating patterns. During cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions, you learn to recognize specific eating behaviors and will develop techniques to change the way you think about eating.

Certified Personal Trainers design customized exercise routines for weight loss and strength training. Our trainers evaluate your individual program daily to ensure you are on track to meet your desired goals.

Executive Design/Culinary Chefs provide well balanced nutritious meals custom designed for our program. They conduct cooking seminars emphasizing proper methods and techniques for preparing healthy meals.

• Our Executive Chef. Amanda Balbi, has been passionate about cooking since as far back as she can remember. Her love for food and the idea that food can be preventive medicine brought her to study nutrition. She has an AS in Culinary Arts, and a BS in Culinary Nutrition with a concentration in clinical dietetics from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. Currently, she is a dietetic intern at Meredith College in Raleigh.
  Previous experiences include internships cooking at a private country club’s restaurant and banquet hall, Wegmans Food Market, and nutrition research at the US Department of Agriculture. Upon obtaining her Registered Dietitian license, she hopes to find more unique ways to combine her love for cooking and dietetics.
  When she is not talking about food or nutrition, she also enjoys sailing, knitting, hiking, and spending time with her labrador retriever.

Professional Yoga Instructors practice gentle stretching, breathing and progressive deep relaxation techniques. Yoga improves your overall health and well-being by conditioning the mind while toning principle muscle groups in the body.