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March 1, 2022

March is National Nutrition Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Poor Nutrition | CDC, 2021):

  • In the United States, 40% of adults have obesity.
  • $147 billion per year is spent on health care for obesity
  • More than one in three American adults, or approximately 88 million US adults have prediabetes, and over than 8 in 10 of those adults don't even know it.

The month of March has been designated as National Nutrition Month. This month presents a perfect opportunity for healthcare providers to educate their patients about the importance of good nutrition for their overall health and well-being.

Poor nutrition has a major influence in a person's health. Health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease have been shown to be correlated to poor nutrition. Proper nutrition, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise may assist with reversing the effects of these health conditions.

  • Per the CDC, adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers (Poor Nutrition | CDC, 2021).

Some recommendations that can be made to your patients to assist them with their nutritional needs include:

  • Perform meal planning.
  • Have quick, healthy, go-to snacks available for when they are hungry.
  • Eat a variety of foods from each of the food groups to get all the necessary nutrients in their diets.
  • A good resource is U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlateExternal website.
  • Limit red meat consumption.
  • Learn portion sizes and portion control to prevent overeating.
  • Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to remain well hydrated.
  • Limit foods and drinks that are high in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
  • Include exercise as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
  • Obtain additional help if needed from a professional.

For a more information regarding recommendations, please refer to:

You can assist your Medicare beneficiaries with developing healthy lifestyle habits by:

  • Encouraging patients to schedule annual wellness visits and health screenings
  • Assessing patient's nutrition and physical activity status during annual wellness visits and providing resources/recommendations as needed
  • Educating patients on the importance of establishing and maintaining healthy habits such as exercising, eating a well-balanced diet including foods that are low in salt, fat, and cholesterol, and controlling weight (or losing weight if needed)
  • Discussing Medicare covered preventive services with beneficiaries and providing recommendations and/or referrals for these preventive services when appropriate

To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive ServicesExternal website

For More Information

CMS.gov resources

Medicare.gov resources (Information on Medicare Coverage)

Nutrition resources

References

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