Quiz: How much time does your physician spend discussing nutrition and/or your diet with you?

The following questions were created to determine your interaction and confidence in your physician on the subject of nutrition and/or dieting. In addition, based on your responses, I urge you to read the CMS decision to cover "Obesity Therapy" and sign a petition to include the Registered Dietitian (RD), as a covered practitioner. Petition http://wh.gov/DWX 






Background/Definitions

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved coverage for "Obesity Therapy." Decision: CAG-00423N. As a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist, I was pleased to hear people who suffer from obesity would be able to get assistance. However, I was surprised to learn the decision did not include the RD and would only cover the primary care physician with a specialty in family medicine, internal medicine, geriatric medicine, or pediatric medicine; or a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant.

None of the above mentioned practitioners (except the RD) have required courses in Obesity Therapy and many have limited nutrition education. The RD has the education and experience to implement an Obesity Therapy component, in addition to practitioners in the field of psychology.

Who is a Registered Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a food and nutrition expert who has met academic and professional requirements including:
1. Earned a bachelor’s degree with course work approved by ADA’s Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Coursework typically includes food and nutrition sciences, medical nutrition therapy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, foodservice systems management, business, computer science and economics. 
2. Completed an accredited, supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation; 
3. Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration; and
4. Completes continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Approximately 50% of RDs hold advanced degrees. Some RDs also hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice, such as Adult Weight Management; Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management; Level 2 Adult Weight Management; pediatric or renal nutrition, nutrition support and diabetes education.
To learn more about the role of the RD visit http://www.eatright.org/

Quiz
1. Has your physician ever discussed nutrition and/or your diet with you?
   a. No        b. Not Sure            c. Yes

2. Has your physician ever said to you, “You need to go on a diet?”
    a. No       b. Not Sure            c. Yes

If you answered yes, please continue.
If you answered “not sure”, consider signing the petition.
 If no, you are probably in good health or you need a new doctor.

3. How much time did your physician (or nurse) spend on the following Nutrition and Dietary Assessments and Plan of Care Tools or Programs?

(1) Conduct a Dietary History 
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(2) Evaluate a Food Journal or Food Recall
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(3) Provide Diet Instructions
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(4) Teach Behavior Modification Techniques
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(5) Assist with Meal Planning 
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes

(6) Help with recipe modifications
   a. 0 to 1 minute    b. 1 minute to 3 minutes    c. Greater than 3 minutes


Score. Count the number of times you chose “a”, “b” and “c”. 
  a: _______            b. _______            c: ________

If you chose “a” and “b” more times than you chose “c”;
Please sign the Petition
Help Stop the Obesity Epidemic
Petition
http://wh.gov/DWX 

Conclusion
Obesity is a risk factor associated with numerous chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc). Over the last 20 years, the incidence of obesity in the U.S. has dramatically increased.

From: CDC, U.S. Obesity Trends National Obesity Trends 
“About one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese. Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25% or more; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more.”

In over 30 years as a practicing RD, I have never seen a primary care physician sit with a patient to go over a diet history, food recall, diet instruction, behavior modification, meal planning, and/or recipe modifications. My current doctor still provides diet handouts from pharmaceutical companies.

Based on the current CMS decision, the cost of Obesity will go higher, as people get larger because of inadequate "Obesity Therapy".

Please sign the Petition
Help Stop the Obesity Epidemic

Petition

http://wh.gov/DWX 

Florida State Representative Perman Welcomes Registered Dietitians in Support of Licensure

Registered dietitians, Barbara Truitt and Christina Wyatt visited with State Representative Steve Perman to discuss the importance of supporting the Dietitians / Nutritionists Licensure.
 
Perman, already a supporter offered suggestions when visiting elected officials. 

1. Public Health and Public Safety are important issues to everyone; show how supporting licensure will benefit our communities. 

2. Prior to a meeting, review elected officials’ interests and committees. Your presentation should emphasize how the RD is essential in achieving a positive outcome. 

3. Recommended meeting with the Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam. Agriculture and Nutrition have a strong relationship. Working together will benefit the people of Florida.

How RDs Benefit
Public Health and Public Safety 

A registered dietitian (RD) is governed by strict guidelines of the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association and the Florida Dietetic Association in the areas of education; internships; experiences; and continuing education requirements, in order to maintain certification. 


The education of a RD focuses on timely, scientifically based food and nutrition information. The RD is an advocate in educating the consumer, media and other health care professionals on making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The RD is a crucial member of the health care team; in assessing nutritional status, recommending appropriate plan of care, and maintaining follow-up. 


 Without licensure anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of education or training. Public health and public safety would be at risk.

December 11, 2011 UNICEF Assists Children Globally for 65 Years

UNICEF  was created on December 11, 1946 by the United Nations to provide children with food, clothing and health care. UNICEF believes nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF is active in more than 190 countries and territories through country programs and National Committees.


History of UNICEF
Sir Roger Moore narrates a brief history of UNICEF, telling the story of a small UN agency founded to bring relief to the children in countries torn apart by WWII to the global force for health, education, and child protection it is today.

 

UNICEF Facts

Poverty contributes to malnutrition, which in turn is a contributing factor in over half of the under-five deaths in developing countries. Some 300 million children go to bed hungry every day. Of these only eight per cent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 per cent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency. (State of the World’s Children, UNICEF, 2005)

In all developing regions, children in rural areas and children from poor households are more likely to be underweight due to lack of nutrition. (Progress for Children, UNICEF, 2010)

884 million people lack access to improved drinking water sources, and 84 per cent of them live in rural areas. (Progress for Children, UNICEF, 2010)

In wake of the floods, malnutrition threatens
thousands of children in Pakistan

 Shop UNICEF

Shop the UNICEF store and help children in need.
Every UNICEF card and gift you buy supports the efforts
to save children’s lives around the world.

Nutrition Gifts
UNICEF Cards and Gifts
UNICEF 2012 Children's Art Wall Calendar 

Nursery Tales Around the World Book

Kids Around the World

UNICEF: "Let's Heal the World"

Young people from different nationalities across the globe

are sending a message of peace and hope through music, 

as part of a UNICEF partnership with Limkokwing University 

of Creative Technology to help create a world fit for children. 

World Diabetes Day November 14, 2011

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14th. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its association members. It joins millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007. The campaign draws attention to the issues of importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes in the public spotlight. Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. 

The Global Diabetes Plan was launched on September 18, 2011. The latest figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reveal that currently 366 million people have diabetes, 4.6 million deaths are due to diabetes and US$ 465 billion is spent on care for diabetes. This disease is one of the century’s greatest health challenges and remains on a relentlessly upwards trajectory.

IDF has brought together world experts to develop a coherent framework of action to respond to the diabetes challenge.  These cost-effective solutions for action by governments, health care professionals and the global diabetes community are presented in IDF’s Global Diabetes Plan 2011-2021. (The presentation is available for download or viewing on video at http://www.idf.org/global-diabetes-plan-2011-2021)

The Big Blue Test is a program of the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF). It takes place every November 14 (World Diabetes Day). People with diabetes are invited to test their blood sugar at 2 pm (local time), do 14 minutes of activity, test again and share the results.

Meet Toby Smithson, RD, LDN, CDE

Toby Smithson is a Registered Dietitian, a Certified Diabetes Educator, a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, and holds a certification in adult weight management. Toby was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October, 1968, and has managed diabetes personally every single day since with no hint of complications. Toby founded DiabetesEveryDay to share her insights into successful diabetes self-management.

DiabetesEveryDay.com members enjoy 24/7 access to weekly menu selections, recipes (developed by dietitians for heart health and carbohydrate management), grocery lists and a unique library of video clips featuring Toby Smithson. New content is added weekly, Toby draws upon her own extraordinary diabetes management success to make this overwhelming responsibility for self-care both understandable and practical. She explores not only the nuts and bolts….medical issues, food and physical activity….but also everyday lifestyle, emotional challenges, stress, and life changing motivation; the real keys to success. To learn more, visit DiabetesEveryDay.com

Blue Circle Dance

About 500 employees, families and friends of Novo Nordisk from all around the world filmed themselves while dancing to 'Move your feet' by Junior Senior. The idea is to generate awareness for diabetes on World Diabetes Day 14 November 2011.

Dietitians in the News and Blog Up-dates November 9, 2011

Seven Favorite Paper.li Food and Nutrition Daily's

Paper.li is a content service. It enables people to publish newspapers based on topics they like and treat their readers to fresh news, daily. Paper.li believes people are the ones qualified to organize and oversee the content that matters most.

Kids Eat Right Daily; @kidseatright

A national campaign of the American Dietetic Association and ADA Foundation to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity.

The Kids-Health-and-Nutrition Daily; @TwinToddlersDad

Blogger; always learning, researching and writing about toddler nutrition. Have an idea or question related to toddler nutrition? Drop me a line!

The Nutrition Tidbits Daily; @HealthCastleGlo

Editor-in-Chief for HealthCastle.com. Author of @GoUnDiet book. Dietitian and nutrition geek.

*How2Cook*Today; @how2cook4u

How2Cook4U hopes you will enjoy your cooking more and eating even more! 

Garden☼ Food and Nutrition News; @GardenCuizine

I’m a Gardening Chef and Registered Dietitian, sharing Healthy Lifestyle, Recipe, Food & Nutrition tips using fresh Garden ingredients http://GardenCuizine.com

 The Diva-Dietitian Daily; @DivaDietitian

The Skinny on Nutrition From Registered Dietitians around the Web. 

Fast Food World; @ValburgerElba

Social Fast Food

November 2011 Wellness News

Current News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals. Wellness News is up-dated daily. To view the entire Newsletter online click here or subscribe to Wellness News by adding your email address to the link on the left.

November 2011

November Highlights

American Diabetes Month Military Family Appreciation Month Diabetic Eye Disease Month Epilepsy Awareness Month Lung Cancer Awareness Month and COPD Awareness Month National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month National Healthy Skin Month National Long term Care Awareness National Marrow Awareness Month National Family Caregivers Month National Hospice Palliative Care National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Prematurity Awareness Month National Adoption Month Family Stories Month World Vegan Month National Roasting Month Banana Pudding Lovers Month Gluten Free Diet Awareness Month National Fun with Fondue Month National Georgia Pecan Month National Pepper Month National Pomegranate Month Peanut Butter Lovers Month Raisin Bread Month Sweet Potato Awareness Month National Pet Cancer Awareness PTA Healthy Lifestyle Month MADD's Tie One On For Safety Holiday (11/16-12/31) Native American Heritage Month