Screening for unhealthy diet and exercise habits: The electronic health record and a healthier population

Abstract

The US spends more money than any other country in the world on health care but does not have the best health outcomes. Most healthcare dollars are spent on treatment of preventable chronic conditions including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Many recent studies have shown that a poor diet and low cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with significant morbidity and an increased risk of all-cause mortality. There is evidence that those with higher cardiorespiratory fitness have lower annual healthcare costs. Despite continued research on the essential role of diet and exercise in optimal health, these vital health behaviors have been slow to change in the US population and do not receive adequate attention. We propose more objective screening, visible and monitored in the Electronic Health Record, to improve awareness, help educate patients, and monitor their progress over time. It would also help identify those individuals that would benefit from referral to interventional behavioral resources in the clinic and community. With an increased focus on preventive and population health measures, now is an ideal time to include both exercise and diet in health metrics. A few relatively simple changes could prompt providers to assess and educate patients about nutrition and fitness and promote a healthier population.

Physical Activity as Part of an Intramural Health Promotion Programme for People with and without Chronic Diseases. A New Tool in Health Care Run by a Public Social Health Insurance

“…The cooperation with primary care and with general practitioners will be sought especially, since primary care physicians play a key role in health promotion and in supporting a healthy lifestyle [ 56 , 57 , 58 ].…”

Integrating a diet quality screener into a cardiology practice: assessment of nutrition counseling, cardiometabolic risk factors and patient/provider satisfaction

“…There is currently no gold standard screener or tool for diet assessment in clinical care. 9 The findings from this work present a simple, sustainable, low-cost screening tool that does not require extensive training, which physicians can use in clinical encounters. The diet quality screener may facilitate the evaluation of patient diet and prompt referral for nutrition interventions, which are inadequately addressed in clinical care at present.…”

“…There is currently no gold standard screener or tool for diet assessment in clinical care 9. The findings from this work present a simple, sustainable, low-cost screening tool that does not require extensive training, which physicians can use in clinical encounters.…”

“…In a survey of 236 New York University (NYU) physicians, average time spent on nutrition in a clinical encounter was 3 min or less 8. One of the limitations to dietary counselling and referral is the need for a rapid assessment of a patient’s dietary habits, and the lack of a specific tool with which to do this assessment 9…”

“… 8 One of the limitations to dietary counselling and referral is the need for a rapid assessment of a patient’s dietary habits, and the lack of a specific tool with which to do this assessment. 9 …”