Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
ISSN: 2155-9600
Sari Edelstein, N Magno and C Lynch
AcceptedAbstracts: J Nutr Food Sci
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is involved in several priority areas to increase health and wellness among Americans. Priority areas include aging, child nutrition, food and food safety, health literacy and nutrition, advancement, medical nutrition therapy and Medicare/Medicaid, nutrition monitoring and research and obesity/overweight and healthy weight management. It is the responsibility of each state?s registered dietitians to attend Public Policy workshops and to discuss the issues in Congress. However, if registered dietitians are not aware of current public policies no positive health outcomes will be reached, no strengthening of policies or changes will be done. Consequently, wellness and nutrition will not be increased in the US if no public policy knowledge is present. As professionals in food, nutrition and health, it is important for members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to be involved in the broad range of issues affecting the health and nutritional status of Americans. This study surveyed 100 dietitians to find out whether these priority areas were perceived as understood to the convenience sample. As the results of this study, many dietitians are aware of the strides being made in these areas; however, there are also gaps in knowledge; specifically dietitian?s involvement in home health care and what medical nutrition therapy services are currently covered by Medicare/Medicaid. By increasing involvement and strengthening knowledge of the progress in each area, dietitians will be able to greater demonstrate their expertise, as well as support the need for their expertise, nationwide.
Sari Edelstein, PhD, RD completed her doctorate at the University of Florida and is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at Simmons College. She is the director of the 5Year BS/MS Program and has been at Simmons College for the past 10 years. Dr. Edelstein has published 10 books and more than 25 papers in professional journals. She serves as a reviewer for 5 other journals in her area of expertise.