These nutrition “experts” could impact your bottom-line
I just stumbled upon an engrossing article written by Michael Ellsberg for Forbes Magazine. In this article, Ellsberg puts forth compelling evidence that the American Dietetic Association (ADA) is attempting to position their agency as the only legal provider of nutrition counseling by gaining legal control over the word “nutritionist” itself.
The behind-the-scenes steps the ADA has recently taken to lobby for this new position are shocking, and the implications are staggering. In an internal ADA document which seems to outline a strategy for gaining a monopoly over nutritional counseling, the ADA clearly sets forth a list of other nutritional counseling providers they deem as a threat.
It appears that if the ADA has its way nurses, pharmacists, personal trainers, chiropractors, naturopaths and homeopaths—even those with a Ph. D. in Nutrition—will all lose the right to give nutritional advice to their patients and/or clients.
It’s hard to believe that a health agency would have this degree of hubris. But then healthcare itself is becoming more and more of a commodity and less and less about helping people.
As a true believer in “natural” alternatives to pharmaceuticals such as diet, herbal supplements, and changes in lifestyle, it pains me to think that one of these options—namely dietary healthcare solutions—might become dictated by one, profit-motivated agency.
Companies marketing vitamins, minerals and other herbal supplements should be equally concerned.
While it might not seem like this sort of lobbying will affect the way you do business, here’s why I think it might: If the ADA makes it illegal for naturopaths and homeopaths to give nutritional advice, they will affect the hard-won legitimacy of those professions. Sadly, this could increase skepticism about alternative medicine in general, and before you know it, vitamins, minerals and supplements could be left out of the healthcare discussion entirely.
In my opinion, no one agency has the right to “own” a healthcare conversation. It is between a patient and their chosen provider—whether that provider is traditional or alternative. I hope that Michael Ellsberg’s incredibly insightful article is enough to slow the ADA down, and I’ll be fascinated to see the outcome.
Click on the following title to read the entire article, “Is the American Dietetic Association Attempting to Limit Market Competition in Nutrition Counseling?”
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Jessica is a competitive athlete and the President of Energize HNM, a health and nutrition marketing agency. Jessica is committed to supporting health brands of every size by helping them define their missions and connect with their customers on a deeper, more meaningful level.