Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by mrob on Monday December 28, 2015 @10:26AM
(#10801500)
Using doctors to provide that information is not insanity, because it's likely that people will take it more seriously if it's from doctors. "Lifestyle educators" aren't trusted like doctors are.
Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by niels_olson on Monday December 28, 2015 @10:23PM
(#10804994)
When I was doing primary care, I actually enjoyed talking to patients about nutrition. I can expound on the topic for hours at the drop of a hat. I went to Med school at Tulane (where Dr. Harlan is). But even in the closed system of active duty military, it's hard to believe the time paid off because I rarely saw the patients again. They'd schedule follow up and no show. My clinic schedule would change. They'd deploy. I'd deploy.
Do I eat better? Yes. My family? Probably. Anyone else? Long term? Studies say maybe, but I just don't know.
Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by beachstartup on Monday December 28, 2015 @10:59AM
(#10801689)
i live in santa monica in west LA, one of the "healthiest" places in the western world if not the healthiest (you can go literally days without seeing an obese person), and every single doctor i've been to in the past 10 years has advised a healthy diet and exercise first and foremost. many advocate low carb or paleo diets. it's not fringe here - it's mainstream. the medical community here is slowly but surely being taken over by a new guard of young up-to-date professionals who understand the changing science.
Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by kefka on Monday December 28, 2015 @10:33AM
(#10801527)
At least in the US, unless the nutritionist is a doctor, they can't legally diagnose or prescribe medicines or treatments. That also don't usually have binding orders for blood tests either, to find nutritional deficiencies.
And there's always a 'reduce alcohol' message. Even if things like distilled alcohol have no negative and a slightly positive effect on someone with diabetes. But alcohol is "sinful" and those teetotalers will shame it whenever they can.
Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by dragonwriter on Monday December 28, 2015 @01:08PM
(#10802409)
> At least in the US, unless the nutritionist is a doctor, they can't legally diagnose or prescribe medicines or treatments
That's not true; all (or nearly all) US jurisdictions give general prescribing authority to more than just physicians (including MDs and DOs in that label) -- e.g., PAs and NPs.
Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by anon4 on Monday December 28, 2015 @10:48AM
(#10801619)
Yeah, I can see it being an essential skill for nutritionists, but I don't think e.g. surgeons need to know how to cook.
Re:If Doctors Learned to Cook, They Might Give Better Advice
by DanBC on Monday December 28, 2015 @02:39PM
(#10802913)
But see also "Making Every Contact Count", where obese people who see a doctor are encouraged to think about losing weight (and sometimes given three months free on a weight loss programme) or people who smoke are encouraged to give up (and given access to smoking cessation services) or people who drink too much are encouraged to cut back a bit.
The British NHS lifestyle education programme is called Change4Life. The programme uses advertising, social media and partnerships with schools, local government, food retailers and community groups. The idea is to provide information in small but frequent doses and in ways that are immediately actionable.
Convenience stores are encouraged to sell more fresh fruit and vegetables with free Point of Sale promotional material. Employers are encouraged to run healthy lifestyle challenges to help their employees eat better, get more exercise and reduce their alcohol intake. Free smartphone apps provide nutrition information and exercise ideas.
http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/pages/overview-policy-backgrou...