Angela Dunn, 33, is a personal coach and receptionist for Weight Watchers International in College Station, Tex.

Q. What role do you play in coaching Weight Watchers members?

A. My main objective is to listen to and support them. Sometimes it’s by phone, sometimes in person, sometimes through our chat function in real time. I discuss with them how to plan ahead, like bringing grapes to snack on during the day. I also encourage people to stay active and moving.

Can you give an example of how you coached someone?

One member scheduled coaching sessions with me throughout her vacation to hold herself accountable. It was hard for her being around family and friends and eating out. We talked about different restaurants she wanted to eat at and who would be with her. I helped her decide to share meals, or portion it and ask for a take-home container.

What is the hardest part of your job?

Helping people tune out the negative feedback, sometimes even inadvertent, that they get. They hear people say, “You don’t need to lose weight.” Or they encounter what I call the food pushers, people you’ll meet in the workplace kitchen, for example, who say, “Oh, you can eat that.” Or others who tell them diets don’t work.