Editing Gwen Shamblin Lara (section)

==Early life==
Shamblin was born Gwendolyn Kay Henley on February 18, 1955 in [[Memphis, Tennessee]] to Walter H. Henley (1926–1981), a general surgeon and Betty (née McNeil; born 1929) Lawrence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jesse Lawrence Obituary (2009) - Memphis, TN |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/commercialappeal/name/jesse-lawrence-obituary?id=8975487 |website=www.legacy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gwen Shamblin Books: Home |url=https://gwenshamblinbooks.com/ |website=gwenshamblinbooks.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Eye-Opening Truth About Gwen Shamblin Lara's Religious Childhood |url=https://www.grunge.com/621487/the-eye-opening-truth-about-gwen-shamblin-laras-religious-childhood/ |website=www.grunge.com |date=October 2021 }}</ref> She was the second youngest of four children with an older brother, an older sister, and a younger brother.<ref>{{cite web |title=Got to spend time with these people this Thanksgiving afternoon. With extended family… These are people who have seen a lot, and I am so grateful for them. From left to right: Carolyn & Don Henley (Gwen's brother), Walt Henley (Gwen's younger brother), Betty Henley Lawrence (Gwen's mother, my "Mimi" who is 95), me, Debra & Rob Scobey (Debra is Gwen's sister and has been like a helping angel to me.) |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02odP2P8tznzKBcJj6a7LRPBRRXV62WfBK5sgBVZ5Bz6CozamnCuCR5bxsTwGWXiLxl&id=100094376180283 |website=facebook.com}}</ref> Shamblin along with her siblings were raised in a [[Churches of Christ|Church of Christ]] family.<ref name="NelsonCancels">{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John W. |date=September 11, 2000 |title=Thomas Nelson pulls plug on Gwen Shamblin's book |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/thomas-nelson-pulls-plug-on-gwen-shamblins-book/ |access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Gaule |date=March 31, 1997 |title=Dieting religiously |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/136209218/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |page=3C |language=en}}</ref> She earned an [[undergraduate degree]] in [[Dietitian|dietetics]] and a master's degree in food and nutrition with an emphasis in biochemistry from [[University of Tennessee]], in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gwenshamblinbooks.com/|title=Williamson County Local Authors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060131093440/http://lib.williamson-tn.org/Local_Authors/S.htm#_Shamblin,_Gwen|archive-date=January 31, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=April 25, 2007|work=Williamson County Library}}</ref><ref name="Frazee woman shares">{{Cite news|title=Frazee woman shares personal weight loss story|last=Thorp|first=Lori Frazer|date=January 8, 1998|work=Frazee Forum}}</ref> In college, Shamblin says she struggled with her weight.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hull |first=Dana |date=May 17, 1997 |title=Dieters putting their faith in sustenance of the spirit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/05/17/dieters-putting-their-faith-in-sustenance-of-the-spirit/d514bacc-c4b8-4eb9-a7fa-568354a44f68/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> She worked as a [[registered dietitian]], consultant and a faculty member at [[Memphis State University]] for five years, and began a weight control consulting practice in 1980.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/203907872/|title=Unorthodox diet plan targeted at teens|last=Gang|first=Christine Arpe|date=April 13, 1988|work=Longview News-Journal|access-date=July 5, 2017|page=4C|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Interview with Gwen">{{Cite news|title=Heart & Soul: An interview with Gwen Shamblin, founder of the Weigh Down Workshop|date=February 1999|work=Murfreesboro Matters|issue=3|volume=1|page=3}}</ref> She also worked in the city's [[Tennessee Department of Health]].<ref name="Frazee woman shares" />