Medical nutrition therapy is a type of treatment for people who are overweight. It’s also for people with certain health conditions. During treatment, you will work with a registered dietitian to make a nutrition plan just for you.
How can a dietitian help me lose weight?
A dietitian practices medical nutrition therapy to treat people who are overweight or obese, and also people with certain health conditions. During your session with a dietitian, your dietitian will look closely at your eating habits. He or she will then help you set nutrition goals and plans just for you. You will meet your dietitian several times. Your dietitian will track your progress at each visit and look into strategies to improve and help you work towards your goals. Your dietitian will help you plan a healthy nutritious diet and assist you in making positive lifestyle changes that last.
Why might I need medical nutrition therapy for weight loss?
Many people know that they need to lose weight, but are not sure how. A dietitian will work with you to address these issues and help you lose weight healthily. During medical nutrition therapy, your dietitian may help determine if you are eating too many or too few calories, and if you are getting sufficient nutrition to lose weight without compromising health. It is important that you lose weight it you are overweight or obese. This is even more important if you have other health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol levels, arthritis, or a family history of these medical issues. Medical nutrition therapy can help manage weight and these other health issues.
What happens during the sessions with my dietitian?
Your first appointment will last about an hour. The subsequent follow up sessions may be about 30 minutes or shorter. During the session, your dietitian will look into your current diet, your preferences, and other aspects related to your intake. After studying your diet, he or she will advise you on where you need to make changes or improve. These suggestions will be according to the latest evidence-based science and your preferences. You may also learn how to eat enough protein and fibre, eat the right variety of foods, to watch your portion sizes and increase your activity level. Your dietitian will tailor these suggestions to your health needs. Your dietitian may also suggest using pre-prepared products such as meal replacement shakes. These may be useful and convenient to help create calorie deficit, and meet your daily nutrition requirements. Nevertheless, no food is off limits. You will just need to keep portion sizes and frequency in check. Be upfront with your dietitian about which changes are difficult for you and what your intake is like so that he or she will be able to make the best-suited plan for you.