Why Aren’t We Talking About Nutrition?

Nutrition is an essential part of overall health and wellness, but according to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association just 12% of office visits include counseling about the patient’s diet. If proper nutrition is so important, why aren’t more health professionals talking about it?

According to the article, only 25% of medical schools offer a dedicated nutrition course. As a result, many physicians feel as though they have inadequate nutrition information. Additionally, time constraints during office visits make these conversations difficult.

“Physicians report inadequate nutrition knowledge and low self-efficacy for counseling patients about diet. In addition, time pressures, especially in primary care, limited opportunities to counsel on nutrition or address preventative issues beyond patients’ acute complaints.”

The importance of nutrition education is becoming more apparent, however, and additional emphasis is being placed on nutrition during a physician’s training and in their practices. Community resources are also becoming more widely available to help combat physicians’ time constraints.

We can help too. At Pulse, we understand the importance of conversations about nutrition. That’s why we’re working with brands every day to provide all kinds of health professionals—dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pediatric professionals, and more with resources to help start and guide their conversations about nutrition with their patients. Our programs are centered around these specific conversations and they provide professionals with educational tools and materials they can share with their patients and clients.

Nutrition is a key aspect of overall health and wellness, one that should play a key role in a physician’s counseling interactions.  What’s the first step to making this happen? Simply starting the conversation.

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