The Impact of RDNs on Non-Communicable Diseases: Proceedings from The State of Food and Nutrition Series Forum

In the United States, nutrition-related morbidities are rising steadily at rates corresponding to increasing overweight and obesity in the population. Such morbidities take huge tolls on personal health and impose high costs on health care systems. In 2019, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (Academy Foundation) embarked on a new project titled The State of Food and Nutrition Series to demonstrate the value of nutrition interventions led by registered dietitian nutritionists for individuals with the following 3 high-priority non-communicable diseases that affect many in the United States and globally: type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. Poor nutritional status contributes to disease onset and progression in these non-communicable diseases, and appropriate medical nutrition therapy can prevent or delay worsening and ameliorate poor health outcomes. However, many people who have these conditions do not have access to an registered dietitian nutritionist, and consequently do not receive the nutrition care they need. On February 19-20, 2020 in Arlington, VA, as the first stage in The State of Food and Nutrition Series, the Academy and the Academy Foundation gathered health care policymakers, clinicians, and researchers from across the country for the State of Food and Nutrition Series Forum, where Academy leaders sought input to build a comprehensive research strategy that will quantify the impact of patient access to registered dietitian nutritionisteled nutrition interventions for type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. This article summarizes the findings of that forum.

Automated summary

In the United States, nutrition-related morbidities are on the rise due to increasing overweight and obesity rates, causing significant health impacts and placing high costs on healthcare systems. The State of Food and Nutrition Series project aims to demonstrate the value of nutrition interventions led by registered dietitian nutritionists for individuals with high-priority non-communicable diseases. The lack of access to registered dietitian nutritionists prevents many individuals with conditions like type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension from receiving needed nutrition care.