Europeans, do you work with nutritionists or dieticians?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes people can struggle everywhere. However, in the USA, once diagnosed with Diabetes, seeing a nutritionist for even 6 sessions is Optional. And that is all insurance covers. IMO, someone with diabetes should be encouraged (ie insurance pays for it) to see a nutritionist for 6-10 sessions initially then every 2-4 weeks, then after it's under control, every 3 months check in.
But instead we focus on medications rather than trying to actually control it with diet and exercise.
Because yes, Type 2 diabetes can definately be controlled by diet and exercise, but you have to do it before it gets too bad. And you will be eating so much differently than most everyone else and what you are bombarded with in "food ads"

[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.

Most definately! Most of Europe eats healthy portions, and lots of fruits and veggies. Higher quality produce and meats and much less sugar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes people can struggle everywhere. However, in the USA, once diagnosed with Diabetes, seeing a nutritionist for even 6 sessions is Optional. And that is all insurance covers. IMO, someone with diabetes should be encouraged (ie insurance pays for it) to see a nutritionist for 6-10 sessions initially then every 2-4 weeks, then after it's under control, every 3 months check in.
But instead we focus on medications rather than trying to actually control it with diet and exercise.
Because yes, Type 2 diabetes can definately be controlled by diet and exercise, but you have to do it before it gets too bad. And you will be eating so much differently than most everyone else and what you are bombarded with in "food ads"

The meds help more though. Changing how you eat is MUCH more difficult than taking meds. If only people could stop eating foods entirely the way one can avoid alcohol or cigarettes and keep on living!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes people can struggle everywhere. However, in the USA, once diagnosed with Diabetes, seeing a nutritionist for even 6 sessions is Optional. And that is all insurance covers. IMO, someone with diabetes should be encouraged (ie insurance pays for it) to see a nutritionist for 6-10 sessions initially then every 2-4 weeks, then after it's under control, every 3 months check in.
But instead we focus on medications rather than trying to actually control it with diet and exercise.
Because yes, Type 2 diabetes can definately be controlled by diet and exercise, but you have to do it before it gets too bad. And you will be eating so much differently than most everyone else and what you are bombarded with in "food ads"

A nutritionist is unlikely to be helpful because they cannot control what people ultimately decide to eat. In the US, the culture around food and eating (for many people) is entirely different than Europe. Everyone is “too busy” to cook, or they just flat out don’t want to and prefer crap. You don’t need a nutritionist to tell you is healthier to make a simple omelette with some cheese and vegetables for dinner vs rolling into Qdoba and picking up a 1000 calorie burrito plus some chips.

[Anonymous]

It's very American. But it's also your culture--you all pretty much created processed foods/fast foods and the unhealthy lifestyle that goes hand in hand.

[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.

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

Latin America and European countries drink tons of sodas. Iceland drinks more cokes per capita than any country on the planet.

Nutritionists are for rich people who are too dumb or lazy to learn about proper nutrition.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Poland for many years and had my children there.

I had a very high risk twin pregnancy and was referred to the specialist maternity hospital in Warsaw. When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes I was assigned a nutritionist/dietician to help me manage my diet. This was free to me and covered by national healthcare. We met regularly and she explained to me what I was supposed to eat, when, and how much. I did manage to control my gestational diabetes with diet only and no insulin so it was successful.

Polish dietitians are very no-nonsense. To this day I see her in my mind's eye regularly chastising me that fancy restaurant food is terrible for you. I'd maybe been kidding myself that because it was fresh, organic, expensive, etc that it was relatively healthy. She was right though. The salt, fat, and sugar content of gourmet restaurant food is generally terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Poland for many years and had my children there.

I had a very high risk twin pregnancy and was referred to the specialist maternity hospital in Warsaw. When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes I was assigned a nutritionist/dietician to help me manage my diet. This was free to me and covered by national healthcare. We met regularly and she explained to me what I was supposed to eat, when, and how much. I did manage to control my gestational diabetes with diet only and no insulin so it was successful.

Polish dietitians are very no-nonsense. To this day I see her in my mind's eye regularly chastising me that fancy restaurant food is terrible for you. I'd maybe been kidding myself that because it was fresh, organic, expensive, etc that it was relatively healthy. She was right though. The salt, fat, and sugar content of gourmet restaurant food is generally terrible.

Oh, the dietician of course looked like a supermodel. A lot of Polish women do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Most definately! Most of Europe eats healthy portions, and lots of fruits and veggies. Higher quality produce and meats and much less sugar.

Where are you getting your information from? Also, it's "definitely."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Poland for many years and had my children there.

I had a very high risk twin pregnancy and was referred to the specialist maternity hospital in Warsaw. When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes I was assigned a nutritionist/dietician to help me manage my diet. This was free to me and covered by national healthcare. We met regularly and she explained to me what I was supposed to eat, when, and how much. I did manage to control my gestational diabetes with diet only and no insulin so it was successful.

Polish dietitians are very no-nonsense. To this day I see her in my mind's eye regularly chastising me that fancy restaurant food is terrible for you. I'd maybe been kidding myself that because it was fresh, organic, expensive, etc that it was relatively healthy. She was right though. The salt, fat, and sugar content of gourmet restaurant food is generally terrible.

She’s right! But most people aren’t eating at Michelin star restaurants regularly. Plus the portions are extremely small, and even so, if don’t completely finish them and it’s fine.