Impact of Professional Nutrition Education on Dietary Behavior and Body Mass Index Status of Senior Clinical Nutrition Students and Dieticians in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Dieticians are uniquely qualified to providenutrition education that can promote healthy lifestyles, reducethe burden of diet related chronic diseases, and improve thequality of life among population.Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of professionalnutrition education on changing dietary habits and achievementof normal BMI.Methodology: A cross sectional study. Subjects weregraduates from clinical nutrition departments and otherdepartments of Saudi Universities (n=225). Using internetstructured questionnaire focusing on dietary habits before andafter college education, physical activity and weight changes totest the impact of education on food habits both on the subjectand his/her surrounding environment (family and friends).Results: Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, darkgreen vegetables, whole grain cereals, dairy products, andwater and increase physical activities, in addition to decreaseconsumption of soda, artificial canned juices, energy drinks,solid fat, added sugar, saturated fat and salt were clear amonggraduates of clinical nutrition departments in comparison toother graduates.Conclusion: Professional nutrition education positively impactfood choices and healthy food habits. This impact is extendedto their families and friends.