Europeans, do you work with nutritionists or dieticians?

[Anonymous]

Curious about this.

Is it just Americans who - not that it’s a major American habit - work with food and nutrition professionals?

[Anonymous]

Were you under the impression that all European nations have the same licensing and regulation structure in this area, much less the same as the US? Or that the translation of other languages into English is one-to-one?

You have to be more specific, OP.

[Anonymous]

Of course those exist in Europe. You can Google "dietician Amsterdam" or whatever city of your choice.

Rising obesity rates are an issue in European countries too, varying by region. It's not as bad as the US but still something they're concerned about from a public health perspective.

[Anonymous]

e.g. for Spain:

https://eatrightinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/spain-cis-august-2021.pdf

Spain does not have a national credential for dietitians-nutritionists.

While the title “Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics” is protected
at the national level, the Regional Bodies of Dietitians-Nutritionists are created by
regional laws and regulate and protect the professional at regional levels.
...
The General Council of Dietitians-Nutritionists of Spain (CGDNE) (El Consejo
General de Colegios Oficiales de Dietistas-Nutricionistas) is in charge of the
national register. This national register is fed by the regional registers.
...
The European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians has published a practical example of the “roadmap to a regulated profession”
specifically about the efforts to create a national certification for the dietitian-nutritionist in Spain.

Related organizations
1. Organization Website & information
General Council of Official
Associations of Dietetians-Nutritionists
(CGCODN) - Consejo General de
Colegios Oficiales de Dietistas-
Nutricionistas.

A primary organization working to
regulate the profession of dietitian-
nutritionist - formed in 2014 to
represent all of the professional
associations of Dietitians-Nutritionists
in Spain through Professional
Associations (Colegios Professional)
representing each autonomous
community. CGCODN maintains a
registry of dietitian-nutritionists by
community.

2. Spanish Society of Nutrition (SEN)

Charter member of the Federación
Española de Sociedades de Nutrició,
Alimentación y Dietética (FESNAD)
Agreement with Fundación Española
de la Nutrición (FEN) to promote
development of Nutrition as a
multidisciplinary science.

3. Spanish Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics; Academia Española de Nutrición y
Dietética

Promotes “advancement and
scientific knowledge of Human
Nutrition, Dietetics and Food through
the organization of scientific events,
research projects, issuance of reports
and scientific positions.”

4. The Spanish Federation of Nutrition,
Food and Dietetics Societies
(FESNAD) Federación Española de
Sociedades de Nutrició, Alimentación
y Dietética

Objectives include promoting
knowledge of nutrition and its
dissemination as a health instrument;
facilitate training in nutrition &
scientific exchanges at the national
and international level; organize a
congress every five years.

5. Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN)
Fundación Española de la Nutrición

Member of the European Network of
Nutrition Foundations (ENF): “to help
facilitate and ensure the exchange of
information and opinions between the
scientific and industrial circles.”
RED-NuBE is a project created within
the Spanish Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics, with the support of the
RED-NuBE

6. General Council of Official
Associations of Dietitians-Nutritionists
of Spain.

A primary goal: “Allow the
development of Research Based on
Evidence in the field of Human
Nutrition and Dietetics, to reduce the
unnecessary expenditure of
resources and efforts in studies of
little interest in relation to the existing
evidence and promote research that
covers the existing gaps.” Learn
more here.

-
etc.

You might start with FENS and EFAD for the most broad overviews.

Federation of European Nutrition Societies https://fensnutrition.org

European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians efad.org

https://www.efad.org

[Anonymous]

I wonder if they are taught better eating habits at home and school. Americans are mostly clueless about portion control.

[Anonymous]

My mom in Europe has a nutritionist, as part of her diabetes care. I really hate when people pretend obesity is just a US problem. People can struggle everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they are taught better eating habits at home and school. Americans are mostly clueless about portion control.

A lot of wealthy European countries serve very good food (hot lunch and no one is allowed to bring home lunch). Have less additives in foods. People also walk more and smoke more. Food is generally more expensive and has less corn and sugar (those are subsidized in the US to provide farmers with revenues).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they are taught better eating habits at home and school. Americans are mostly clueless about portion control.

It is not just portions. The quality of food is generally much higher in Europe, which also contributes to better portion control.

[Anonymous]

I'm French. Yes, every country has its own system for licensed nutritional advice. Do people use it as much as here? No idea.

Obesity is a problem in all first-world countries, but it's nowhere near as bad as in the US. Many countries around the world have adopted compulsory food labeling where packaged products have a general health score clearly visible on the box or bag, In France the score is calculated according to an evolving formula based on how rich the food is in lean protein, healthy fats, fiber and natural veggies or fruit, compared to unhealthy fats and sugars. It's a letter grade from A (healthiest) to E (least healthy). The "Nutriscore", as it's called, is really easy for busy people to use, or for people with limited understanding of nutrition. My elderly parents can make better choices when they put stuff in their basket at the supermarket. I wish the US had that system! It's not perfect, but it's a great start, rather like the way BMI is used (not perfect, but still very useful).

Portions have also historically need smaller in Europe than the US.

[Anonymous]

^ French person here again. Some members of my family have worked with nutritionists... to gain weight. We're a slim bunch, and the underweight relatives, my son included, need a little help in that department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious about this.

Is it just Americans who - not that it’s a major American habit - work with food and nutrition professionals?

It's more of a wealth thing than a nationality thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious about this.

Is it just Americans who - not that it’s a major American habit - work with food and nutrition professionals?

It's more of a wealth thing than a nationality thing.

Not exactly. The poor in Europe are not as obese as the poor in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious about this.

Is it just Americans who - not that it’s a major American habit - work with food and nutrition professionals?

It's more of a wealth thing than a nationality thing.

Not exactly. The poor in Europe are not as obese as the poor in America.

The topic is about paying nutritionists to tell them what to eat. Poor people don't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious about this.

Is it just Americans who - not that it’s a major American habit - work with food and nutrition professionals?

It's more of a wealth thing than a nationality thing.

Disagree. Americans of all socioeconomic status have terrible eating habits. Just look at Trump with his diet cokes and fast food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they are taught better eating habits at home and school. Americans are mostly clueless about portion control.

It is not just portions. The quality of food is generally much higher in Europe, which also contributes to better portion control.

You mean the food people chose to eat is higher quality. We have plenty of “high quality” food in the US, but more people here prefer processed crap and convenience foods.