What's up, Doc? Talking with Patients about Food Choices
How much have you talked about your diet at your medical appointments? Sometimes when medically necessary? Never? Somewhere in the middle? The obesity epidemic affects approximately 93.3 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also says that obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death. Even though the way doctors measure body mass index is flawed and outdated, it is one measure of a person’s health. Other factors when assessing a pesron’s health should include muscle tone, where the fat is stored, activity levels, and more.
More School for Nurses and Doctors?
In an interesting perspective piece in the Washington Post, Courtland Milloy wrote about a bill being considered by the D.C. Council that would require nurses and doctors to complete a few hours of nutrition education, to pass along this information to patients during visits. On one hand I think this is a great idea because many of our ailments are preventable with proper diet and exercise. On the other hand, nurses and doctors are strapped for time, and as Milloy ponders, would patients be better served seeing a dedicated nutritionist? The other question is not just the message but the importance of the delivery. Food and eating is a pleasure and a necessity. The last thing we want is to is to be shamed about something we need to do in order to survive.
Which Eating Plan is Best?
My mom said a few things about eating and they were pretty straightforward.
Eat the rainbow
Don’t eat fake foods
This time of year, we start thinking about making better choices (starting in January of course) to enhance our health and stave off the aging process, prevent disease, and maintain our bone strength, so I wonder when armed with credible information, would patients eat better? Maybe. Personally I know I could do better, but sometimes succumb to my cravings. It’s one of the reasons I struggle to do food prepping, because I’m often cooking based on what I feel like on a given day.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which advocates for a plant-based diet, offers Nutrition Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. They offer recommendation for children and adults and offer a research-based approach to help share what they find to be the healthiest way to eat and why. Admittedly, as much as I love my veggies, beans, and legumes, I still consume meat and some dairy but as I get older definitely feel better eating more whole foods.
So I think it would be good for nurses and doctors to get the additional education about nutrition and perhaps take two more minutes per patient to give them a quick tip about making good food choices and also offer to recommend a board-certified nutritionist.
What do you think?
For More Information
The Start of a Healthy Conversation