Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Medical Nutrition Therapy Behavioral Interventions Provided by Dietitians for Adults With Overweight or Obesity, 2024

Providing interventions that facilitate improvement of dietary intake and other health behaviors can improve nutrition-related outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) behavioral interventions require expertise from registered dietitian nutritionists or international equivalents (dietitians), which no other health care provider can provide for adults with obesity. Current evidence supports the role of MNT behavioral interventions for adults with overweight or obesity as an effective treatment option, when appropriate for and desired by the client. This Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Position Paper describes potential benefits and concerns regarding dietitian-provided MNT behavioral interventions for adults with overweight and obesity and informs dietitians about implications for practice. This Position Paper is supported by a systematic review examining effectiveness of MNT interventions provided by dietitians and by an evidence-based practice guideline. It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that MNT behavioral interventions for adults (aged 18 years and older) with overweight or obesity should be a treatment option, when appropriate and desired by the client, to improve cardiometabolic, quality of life, and anthropometric outcomes. Dietitians providing MNT recognize the complex contributors to overweight and obesity, and thus individualize interventions, based on a shared decision-making process, and deliver interventions in an inclusive, compassionate, and client-centered manner. Interventions should include collaboration with an interprofessional team when needed. Dietitians strive to increase health equity and reduce health disparities by advocating and providing opportunities for increased access to effective nutrition care services. This position remains in effect until December 31, 2031.

Weight Management Interventions Provided by a Dietitian for Adults with Overweight or Obesity: An Evidence Analysis Center Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Obesity is associated with a multitude of comorbidities and considerable health care costs.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review was to examine the efficacy of weight management interventions provided by a registered dietitian or international equivalent (referred to as "dietitian").

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the effect of weight management interventions provided by a dietitian, compared with usual care or no intervention, on several cardiometabolic outcomes and quality of life in adults with overweight or obesity. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL databases were searched for eligible RCTs published between January 2008 and January 2021 in the English language. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model, publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's statistics, and heterogeneity was assessed by interpreting I2 values. Efficacy of intervention components, such as telehealth or group contacts, were explored in sub-group analyses. Version 2 of the risk-of-bias tool for RCTs was used to assess risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation method was used to determine certainty of evidence.

RESULTS

This systematic review included 62 RCTs. Compared with control conditions, weight management interventions provided by a dietitian resulted in improved body mass index (mean difference [MD] -1.5; 95% CI -1.74 to -1.26; moderate evidence certainty); percent weight loss (MD -4.01%; 95% CI -5.26% to -2.75%; high evidence certainty); waist circumference (MD -3.45 cm; 95% CI -4.39 to -2.51 cm; high evidence certainty); blood pressure (MD -3.04 mm Hg; 95% CI -5.10 to -0.98 mm Hg and MD -1.99 mm Hg; 95% CI -3.02 to -0.96 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, respectively; moderate and low evidence certainty); and quality of life using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (MD 5.84; 95% CI 2.27 to 9.41 and 2.39; 95% CI 1.55 to 3.23 for physical and mental quality of life, respectively; low and moderate evidence certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

For adults with overweight or obesity, weight management interventions provided by a dietitian are efficacious for improving several examined cardiometabolic outcomes and quality of life.

Medical Nutrition Therapy Interventions Provided by Dietitians for Adult Overweight and Obesity Management: An Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence-Based Practice Guideline

Overweight and obesity affect most adults living in the United States and are causally linked to several adverse health outcomes. Registered dietitian nutritionists or international equivalents (dietitians) collaborate with each client and other health care professionals to meet client-centered goals, informed by the best available evidence, and translated through a lens of clinical expertise and client circumstances and preferences. Since the last iteration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics guideline on adult weight management in 2014, considerable research has been conducted and circumstances confronting dietitians have evolved. Thus, updated guidance is needed. The objective of this evidence-based practice guideline is to provide recommendations for dietitians who deliver medical nutrition therapy behavioral interventions for adults (18 years and older) with overweight and obesity to improve cardiometabolic outcomes, quality of life, and weight outcomes, when appropriate for and desired by the client. Recommendations in this guideline highlight the importance of considering complex contributors to overweight and obesity and individualizing interventions to client-centered goals based on specific needs and preferences and shared decision making. The described recommendations have the potential to increase access to care and decrease costs through utilization of telehealth and group counseling as effective delivery methods, and to address other barriers to overweight and obesity management interventions. It is essential for dietitians to collaborate with clients and interprofessional health care teams to provide high-quality medical nutrition therapy interventions using the nutrition care process to promote attainment of client-centered outcomes for adults with overweight or obesity.

Intra-uterine effects on adult muscle strength

BACKGROUND

Maternal behaviors and exposures affect fetal growth and development. Smoking, malnutrition, sedentary behavior, and stress can each lead to fetal programming and intra-uterine growth restriction. As a result, tissue development may be impaired. Problems with muscle formation can lead to reductions in muscle performance throughout life. The purpose of this study was to determine if in utero effects on muscle mass, muscle function, or both are responsible for the relationship between size at birth and adult muscle strength.

STUDY DESIGN

One hundred adults (ages 18-40), who were singletons born at term (37-42 weeks), participated. Birth weight was adjusted for gestational age using neonatal growth reference data. Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of dominant and non-dominant handgrip, and right and left leg extension were measured. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between adjusted birth weight and muscle strength. Sex and lean body mass were covariates.

RESULTS

Dominant handgrip MVC increased by 1.533 kg per 1 SD increase in adjusted birth weight (p = 0.004). Lean body mass had a significant indirect effect on this relationship. The relationship between handgrip strength and adjusted birth weight was strongest among female subjects. No other muscle strength measures were significantly associated with adjusted birth weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Birth size was a significant predictor of handgrip strength in adulthood. Including lean body mass attenuated, but did not remove, the association. Thus, among individuals born to term, having a smaller-than-predicted birth size likely causes both reductions in muscle mass formation and decreased muscle function, ultimately impacting muscle strength in adulthood.