More than 40% of American adults have obesity, costing the U.S. health care system an estimated $173 billion annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The development of incretin-based therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), marks a major advance in obesity treatment. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) play a crucial role in providing medical nutrition therapy (MNT) to people using these medications as part of comprehensive obesity care.
Research shows that effective obesity care should include counseling from an RDN to support the adoption of lifestyle changes that optimize weight loss maintenance, prevent and/or reduce medication side effects, and achieve long-term health. RDNs offer essential services, including screening and assessment, medication support and guidance on a nutrient-dense eating plan. They encourage healthy lifestyles, support positive body image and promote physical activity to help maintain lean body mass during weight loss.
The paper Incretin-Based Therapies and Lifestyle Interventions: The Evolving Role of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Obesity highlights the RDN's role in comprehensive obesity care. It provides expert guidance and advocates for expanded access to RDN-provided MNT in addition to obesity medications, opportunities for RDNs to advise on medication management, and a leadership role for RDNs on interdisciplinary care teams.
One of the paper's co-authors, Robert F. Kushner, MD, MS, a professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, underscores, “Obesity care is best provided by an interprofessional team that includes medical prescribers, RDNs, health psychologists, and exercise specialists.” These new medications enhance obesity care, yet their success relies on the foundation of helping people make lifestyle changes. The Academy seeks to support access and health equity for individuals with obesity through a multi-tiered approach, including advocacy for comprehensive obesity care, promoting advanced practice among RDNs, and tools and resources for RDNs.
Read the full paper, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics online. For more resources on this topic, visit the Academy’s Obesity Medication web page for a statement on the use of obesity medications, online report and webinar series.
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