The Evolving Role of Dietitians in Modern Medicine
Let's all unite and eat healthily to stay healthy& to make our whole nation healthy.
२०८१, ७ आश्विन सोमबार १९:१६ मा प्रकाशित
There are various mode of treatment, each aimed at making patients disease-free. Over time, public preferences have shifted. For example, in Nepal, there’s a history of requesting campaign with Dhami and Jhakri to refer patients to hospitals when their treatments are not successful. Each method has its strengths and is often combined with others for the best patient outcomes, depending on the disease and patient preferences.
Similarly, todays hospitals and doctors have become central& power house to patient care, but history shouldn’t repeat like as previous.Recognizing the value of dietitians as an essential mode of treatment. Dietitians should be warmly welcomed as they offer specialized care, often more effective than medication for certain patients. Diet is much more than just fuel for bodies, we shouldn’t have to forget that it has the potential to act as medicine, preventing disease, treat various conditions & consuming excess leads to negative health impacts same like as clinical medicine. Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements fall under the expertise of dietitians, while medication prescriptions belong to doctors. The public may still be confused about who to consult for diet and supplements. The government and stakeholders must clarify this distinction and enforce strict regulations, ensuring supplements are not consumed without a dietitian’s prescription. Government should conduct campaign to aware all.
How Nutrition Experts are Transforming Healthcare:
In this rapidly changing world and the people the role of diet plays a vital role in the modern medicine. The role of Dietitian has evolved significantly from merely providing dietary advice to becoming integral members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams, shaping treatment plans, and driving better patient outcomes through personalized (Tailored) nutrition.
The Intersection of Nutrition and Medicine
As the lifestyle of people is changing so as the modern medicine have to be preventive in approach rather than curative as we all know prevention is better than cure. The Eating habits is the main causes of many chronic and metabolic diseases so if we can change the dietary habit of public, we can certainly lead to disease free individual, community and the nation. The kitchen needs to be changed, the menu of order needs to be changed in order to create healthy family and society. Yes! We need to do it. We can do it. We have to do it.
Personalized Nutrition/ Tailored Diet Plan: A Game Changer
Just as clothes need to be tailored to fit each individual perfectly, so too should our diet plans be customized to suit each person’s unique body and nutritional needs. Different people have different body structures—some may be thin with less body fat, while others may be obese with higher body fat. Therefore, a diet plan should be tailored to meet the specific demands of an individual’s body, just like a well-fitting suit. One of the most significant advancements in the field is the shift towards personalized nutrition. Dietitians are now employing advanced tools and technologies to tailor dietary recommendations to individual genetic profiles, lifestyle factors, and health conditions. This personalized approach ensures that dietary interventions are more effective and sustainable.
For instance, individuals with Type 2 diabetes can benefit from customized meal plans that consider their specific glucose response to different foods. Similarly, patients with heart disease may receive tailored advice on managing cholesterol levels through diet.We should be clear thatillnesses brought on by an imbalance in food consumption cannot be cured by medication until and until diet and food adjustments are made. Emerging diseases related to lifestyle start with this.
Integrating Dietitians into Healthcare Teams
It’s long overdue for dietitians to become essential team members in hospitals under the current healthcare system. Dietitians create and carry out treatment regimens in conjunction with doctors, nurses, and other experts. Their knowledge is especially helpful when handling complicated instances where nutrition is important. A dietitian is a better healthcare provider for nutritional deficiencies. However, all illnesses are actually stored in a single therapy module basket. It is important to distinguish between diseases caused by infections and nutrient deficiencies. In current healthcare system, nutritional therapy with proper medicine is necessary.
Dietitians, for instance, assist cancer patients in oncology in navigating the difficulties of side effects from treatment and maintaining their nutritional status. In the realm of pediatrics, they work with families to ensure children with specific health conditions receive the right nutrients for optimal growth and development. Dietitians can help achieve the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic goals of our health care system.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite the need and importance of dietitians, it is very challenging to utilize their knowledge, attitude and practices and experiences in developing country like ours, where basichealth care facilities and basic needs are stilldifficult to fulfill.
However, to develop our healthcare system and implement a preventive approach from grassrootslevel, there is a need for greater integration of dietitians into primary care settings. This will ensure that nutrition is consistentlyaddressed as part of routine healthcare.The Government should also take this initiative as these little changes can bring significant change in individual health status, preventive chronic metabolic disease and overall, Health Care System. A small change in program of Government like ‘Diwa Khaja’ which is provides meals to students in government school without any proper recommendations, could be greatly improved by incorporating dietitian input. This could bring about significant benefits and positive changes in student health.Government is spending huge amount in nutrition program without involving Nutritionist in health sector.right now, there are none, not even at the local or ministry of health level. The only organizations who recognize the value of nutritionists and become involved are NGOs and INGOs.
Early implementation of healthy dietary patterns, modification of diet, tailored diet plan in patients with Chronic Diseases is encouraged, but an understanding of the mechanisms by which these patterns trigger cardiometabolic benefits remains incomplete. To overcome these challenges, a collaborative approach between dietitian and physician is essential. A proper diet plan is essential to treat diseases along with the course of medications. Eat healthy to be healthy.
In summary, a preventive approach to eating habits is crucial to building a community, culture, and nation free from disease. Although we eat to stay healthy, the truth is that most of the time our eating habits aredoing more harm than good. We run the danger of getting sick and living shorter lives as a result of consuming different meals and fortifications. Thus, eating a healthy diet is essential to maintaining excellent health. “Let’s all unite and eat healthily to stay healthy& to make our whole nation healthy.”
