Advantageous advice from dieticians

Counseling with dieticians can help to reduce obesity

22/10/2012

A Dutch study shows the economic benefits that dietary counseling has for the health system and society: According to this, Dutch society receives up to 63 for each euro spent on diet treatment by a dietitian for patients with obesity and comorbidities within five years Euro back.

The positive effects of nutritional counseling in patients with overweight or obesity and one or more comorbidities are well documented in international scientific literature. Nevertheless, so far there has been no analysis of the specific financial benefits. This has now been carried out by the Dutch SEO Economisch Onderzoek, a foundation that conducts independent economic research and collaborates with the University of Amsterdam.

The order has been given by the Dutch Association of Dieticians NVD (Nederlandse Vereniging van Diёtisten). Using the example of the large group of patients with overweight or obesity as well as the concomitant diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension and / or elevated blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemia), the researchers have calculated based on scientific data, which financial advantage brings a professional nutritional advice.

Result: In the Netherlands, an average of 4.5 hours per year is estimated for outpatient nutrition counseling. Their economic benefit lies only in patients with obesity and the accompanying comorbidities, calculated over a period of five years, at up to 2.3 billion euros. The benefits in terms of quality of life, other healthcare costs (eg hospital admission, drug consumption) and labor productivity were taken into account.

In other words, for every euro spent on nutritional advice by a dietician, the Dutch economy recovers up to 63 euros over a five-year period. In other cost-benefit analyzes carried out by SEO Economisch Onderzoek for (medical) intervention, the benefit for each euro spent over a period of five years was 3 to 5 euros. Thus, the professional diet advice by the dietician is very cost effective.

Dieticians therefore contribute significantly to improving patient health and patient safety, as well as providing financial relief to the healthcare system. The VDD advocates the inclusion of outpatient nutrition counseling in the catalog of benefits of the GKV and eagerly awaits the upcoming decision of the Joint Federal Committee (GBA). The study can be read here summarized.