Today, many people struggle with overweight issues due to an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of time for wholesome meals, stress, and diseases often manifested through obesity. Consulting a dietitian is becoming increasingly popular as these sessions assist and support us in restoring regular meal patterns and adjusting our diet to our health condition. How should you prepare for your first visit to a dietitian? What should you remember?
First Visit to a Dietitian – How to Prepare?
The initial appointment with a dietitian is pivotal. It’s during this visit that the dietitian will propose a strategy for joint action. It’s essential to provide all necessary information regarding your current health status, physical condition, taste preferences, and habits. Also, share with the dietitian any past difficulties you’ve faced during previous attempts at changing your diet. How does such a visit proceed? What stages does it involve?
Analysis of Test Results
Bring all test results from the past year and hospital discharge summaries, if available.
If your goal is weight reduction, the essential tests include:
- complete blood count
- lipid profile
- glucose and insulin levels
- TSH, ft3, ft4
- 25(OH)D metabolite level (vitamin D)
If you are additionally dealing with specific medical conditions, further diagnostics may be necessary. The dietitian will inform you about this during the visit.
Interview Regarding Dietary Habits
You can prepare a description of your typical daily menu on a piece of paper. Describe the types of consumed meals and beverages, as well as the timing of consumption. Alternatively, you can simply tell the dietitian, although having notes can be helpful amid the rush of thoughts during the visit. The dietitian will also inquire about your favorite products and those you avoid for any reason. Being honest is crucial because based on this information, the dietitian will estimate which vitamins and minerals might have been lacking in your previous diet.
Comprehensive Body Mass and Composition Measurement
During the appointment, the dietitian will measure your body mass and composition using electrical bioimpedance analysis (BIA) on a specialized medical analyzer. The measurement is most accurate if the patient isn’t right after a meal and has an empty bladder. Hence, it’s advisable to keep a 3-hour gap between meals and empty the bladder before the measurement.
Honest Conversation and Discussion of Past Challenges
It’s essential to share your history of previous attempts to change dietary habits with the dietitian. This isn’t about judging you but about supporting you in finding the best solutions for you. The process of change can be challenging, and often, the key is finding unique solutions that differ for each patient.
Healthy Diet. Maintain a Proper Diet and Enjoy Life…
It’s worth paying attention to our dietary habits. Sometimes, we aren’t aware of how significant an impact our diet has on our well-being. By emphasizing a healthy diet, positive changes can be noticed very quickly. It won’t just be weight reduction; a nutritious diet enhances physical and mental well-being, skin firmness, and revitalizes your energy for life. It’s important to remember this.
Clinical Dietitian at Lumedic