Why do doctors get so little nutrition education?

#43

In my mind, it’s not the fact that they don’t know about nutrition (doctors and vets both), it’s the fact that so many of them are so dogmatic about nutrition despite not being experts. In their minds, they are experts and resent not being seen as such. A little professional honesty is what’s needed.

#44

Diet is one of the least important things to a doctor partially because it’s pretty basic to learn about on your own. Also, I don’t think anyone really understands diet that well still. News articles and studies flip flop every week on what is good for you. Also, genetics are a bigger factor of health than people think. You can have an awful diet and be fit or have a great diet and be obese.

(Nicole Silvia) #45

I agree 100%. Don’t give hard strict advice from a professional platform about something you don’t know enough about.

Most Doc’s I encounter are honest with their limitations this way. I haven’t had an issue with it ever. BUT they do tend to have an “opinion” just like any other human being does. There’s a huge difference.

(Nicole Silvia) #46

I’m sure most Drs. understand the importance of diet. It’s a fundamental component of overall health.

It is NOT “pretty basic” to learn about on your own. It’s an entire science unto itself.

Which is exactly why we don’t 100% understand it and why it is always flip flopping. Science of all types is always always going through this and always will. There is no such thing as “this is a fact, case closed forever”. The world of “science” is incredibly interesting but equally as frustrating, often leaving more questions with every new tidbit of new info.

All you can do is learn as much as you can, try it for yourself, see what happens and use your common sense.

You are 100% correct that you can be “healthy” or “unhealthy” under many different scenarios. It’s up to us to figure out our own goals and which methods to use in order to reach them.

#47

I think it is. Plenty of resources on diet out there if you’re willing to look. A doctor is too busy to teach you about diet. If you’re obese, then they will talk to you about diet. Many dietitians are quacks and there are lots of stupid fad diets so it is good to have some skepticism.

A lot of people do fine on a standard diet. It’s mostly overweight people that turn to diets like keto because nothing else works. Some people can’t believe why their doctor is skeptical of keto. It far from proven yet long term otherwise everyone would be doing it.

(Nicole Silvia) #48

It’s not though, it’s a science all it’s own of how introducing different things coupled with subtracting others influences an entire bodily system. That doesn’t even include different bodies with different issues. It’s chemistry combined with physiology and then specified to different conditions.

Perhaps it seems basic for YOU as an individual to learn from what you can, what is available to you about your own diet and nutrition, which is exactly what we should all be doing. Maybe you “get” the concepts, but there’s a good reason why you have to go to college to be a dietitian and go through clinicals and choose a specialty much like nursing.

It may be true that some Drs. are rushed and can’t spend the additional time discussing diet, but mostly it’s probably because the are really not supposed to tell you because it’s a specialty that they really aren’t very educated in. They can give you their “professional opinion” , but they really aren’t very qualified and often refer you to someone more qualified as a result.

Why do you think Dietitians are quacks? They are the only professionals who have a college degree specifically for the human diet. They can’t be total morons. They may have developed different opinions based on their education and experience, but they are extremely knowledgeable in the field.

#49

Like many jobs these days unfortunately, they are trying to sell you something very simple for a high price that you can learn about by reading for a few hours. Diet is not complicated but that’s what they would have you believe. Most Americans simply drink too much and eat too much junk. They don’t need a dietitian to explain that to them. A lot of diet science is bad to begin with.

(Nicole Silvia) #50

Hmm… I wouldn’t like that either… but idk these kinds of Dietitians. I have encountered many Nutritionists like that though.

They have very little education compared to a Dietitian, like a CNA compared to an RN. They also make little money, usually are found in the gym-type environments trying to sell products and programs, as you mentioned.

Dietitians literally have a medical license and a very hard-earned Bachelors degree and usually work in the medical field making $40/hr prescribing diets like a Dr. prescribes medication. Like other medical professionals, they have to maintain credentials throughout their careers, so they do have to stay fairly up to date with the latest research.

I am not a fan of anything that doesn’t add up in my mind and am always leery of anyone trying to sell me miracle products of course.

(J) #51

Agree. There is a vast chasm between dietitians and nutritionists. That is not to say they don’t both have their place in the spectrum of people who give advice, but a dietician has pretty hard core training in medical diets. There are certainly flaws in the training, but I wouldn’t in any universe call them quacks. There are good dieticians and bad ones, just like in any field.

I’m a CNM/NP and was taught the nutritional orthodoxy in all of my training. It was VERY hard for me to break away from that and embrace other ideas. But once I did, it was SO liberating. My specialty is pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction and I now use dietary advice as part of my treatment protocols to reduce inflammation and have been quite impressed with the results. So much so, that I have made the transition in my own life (I have been a normal weight most of my life) and am living the difference. :slight_smile:

(Nicole Silvia) #52

Agreed! We are all different in all fields. Love your experience with using diet in yours :slight_smile: it’s wonderful when you find something that produces good consistent results!

I am against labelling Doctors as people who don’t care, know, or value the benefits of diet. Of course the do. I’m also not a fan of labelling Dietitians or nutritionists as close minded either.