Malnutrition, especially among the elderly in the healthcare environment, is a prevalent problem in The Netherlands, affecting both patients and the healthcare budget. Although oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are often used to restore the nutritional status of a patient, the evaluated current available literature failed to show a coherent picture of the effectiveness of ONS in malnourished patients. In the present study, we used a qualitative research approach to gain insight in the treatment of malnutrition via ONS and food snacks in a single non-academic teaching hospital. Twelve semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (such as dieticians, nurses, care-assistants, physician) were held. Results indicated opportunities for further improvement, for example through the introduction of a screening tool for malnutrition in cognitive impaired patients, better timing for handing out the daily meal plan forms, and improved range and provision of snacks. The stakeholders indicated that taste and physical properties of ONS, but also social environment as well as the physical/mental state and motivation of a patient are important facilitators which should be considered during the prescription. In conclusion, to optimize treatment of malnutrition using ONS and food snacks, the above mentioned opportunities to better match the needs of malnourished patients have to be tackled. Involvement of the different stakeholders within the healthcare facility will be important to implement required changes in nutritional practice.
MULTIFILE
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with COVID-19 infection presents with a broad clinical spectrum of symptoms and complications. As a consequence nutritional requirements are not met, resulting in weight- and muscle loss, and malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to delineate nutritional complaints, the (course of the) nutritional status and risk of sarcopenia of COVID-19 patients, during hospitalisation and after discharge.METHODS: In this prospective observational study in 407 hospital admitted COVID-19 patients in four university and peripheral hospitals, data were collected during dietetic consultations. Presence of nutrition related complaints (decreased appetite, loss of smell, changed taste, loss of taste, chewing and swallowing problems, nausea, vomiting, feeling of being full, stool frequency and consistency, gastric retention, need for help with food intake due to weakness and shortness of breath and nutritional status (weight loss, BMI, risk of sarcopenia with SARC-F ≥4 points) before, during hospital stay and after discharge were, where possible, collected.RESULTS: Included patients were most men (69%), median age of 64.8 ± 12.4 years, 60% were admitted to ICU at any time point during hospitalisation with a median LOS of 15 days and an in-hospital mortality rate of 21%. The most commonly reported complaints were: decreased appetite (58%), feeling of being full (49%) and shortness of breath (43%). One in three patients experienced changed taste, loss of taste and/or loss of smell. Prior to hospital admission, 67% of the patients was overweight (BMI >25 kg/m2), 35% of the patients was characterised as malnourished, mainly caused by considerable weight loss. Serious acute weight loss (>5 kg) was showed in 22% of the patents during the hospital stay; most of these patients (85%) were admitted to the ICU at any point in time. A high risk of sarcopenia (SARC-F ≥ 4 points) was scored in 73% of the patients during hospital admission.CONCLUSION: In conclusion, one in five hospital admitted COVID-19 patients suffered from serious acute weight loss and 73% had a high risk of sarcopenia. Moreover, almost all patients had one or more nutritional complaints. Of these complaints, decreased appetite, feeling of being full, shortness of breath and changed taste and loss of taste were the most predominant nutrition related complaints. These symptoms have serious repercussions on nutritional status. Although nutritional complaints persisted a long time after discharge, only a small group of patients received dietetic treatment after hospital discharge in recovery phase. Clinicians should consider the risks of acute malnutrition and sarcopenia in COVID-19 patients and investigate multidisciplinary treatment including dietetics during hospital stay and after discharge.
Introductie: De behandeling van Anorexia Nervosa is multidisciplinair. Ondanks de uitvoerige behandeling blijkt dat herstelpercentages laag zijn en terugvalpercentages hoog. Er wordt vaak gezien dat (ex)eetstoornispatiënten een paar jaar na de behandeling nog restrictief eetgedrag vertonen. ‘Intuitief Eten’ is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde methode die kan helpen met het herstellen van de relatie met eten en leren om weer te vertrouwen op het lichaam. Deze studie is opgezet om uit te zoeken hoe Intuïtief Eten het best geïmplementeerd kan worden in de behandeling van Anorexia Nervosa in de diëtistische praktijk. Methode: Om het (eet)gedrag tijdens en na de eetstoornis en de effecten van Intuïtief Eten bij Anorexia Nervosa in kaart te brengen is literatuuronderzoek uitgevoerd. De literatuur is gezocht in de volgende databases: CataloguePlus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect en Pubmed. Vervolgens is kwalitatief onderzoek gedaan bij 17 vrouwen, in de leeftijd van 15-35 jaar die in behandeling waren voor Anorexia Nervosa of deze behandeling korter dan 5 jaar geleden hadden afgerond. Ze zijn naar hun meningen en voorkeuren bij de behandeling van Anorexia Nervosa gevraagd, door middel van semigestructureerde diepte-interviews. Resultaten: Uit de resultaten van het literatuuronderzoek is gebleken, dat Intuïtief Eten wordt geassocieerd met positieve behandeluitkomsten bij het herstel van Anorexia Nervosa, maar dat toepassing pas mogelijk is, nadat er een periode van hervoeden door middel van een gestructureerd eetschema heeft plaatsgevonden. Uit de diepte-interviews kwam naar voren dat de volgorde van de principes van belang lijkt voor een succesvolle toepassing van Intuïtief Eten. Het lijkt erop, dat er aan het begin van de behandeling mogelijk een grotere kans is dat er misbruik gemaakt wordt van bepaalde principes van Intuïtief Eten, doordat sommige principes als excuus gebruikt kunnen worden om minder te eten of extra te sporten en daarmee het eetstoornis gedrag voortzetten. Principes gericht op het herkennen van de eetstoornis, het lichaamsbeeld en omgaan met emoties, kunnen mogelijk al in een eerder stadium van de behandeling worden toegepast. De principes gericht op het luisteren naar honger- en verzadigingssignalen, bewegen en gezonde voeding worden door respondenten gezien als valkuilen en kunnen daardoor wellicht pas later toegepast worden. Conclusie: Om de toepassing van Intuïtief Eten bij Anorexia Nervosa succesvol te laten verlopen lijkt het van belang om rekening te houden met de volgorde waarin de principes worden geïntroduceerd. Rekening houden met de fase waarin bepaalde principes toegepast kunnen worden, kan mogelijk het verschil maken voor een succesvolle behandeling en zou de kans kunnen verkleinen dat de patiënt misbruik maakt van de principes. Het stroomschema: “Implementatie van Intuïtief Eten bij het herstel van Anorexia Nervosa” kan worden ingezet als hulpmiddel bij het toepassen van Intuïtief Eten bij patiënten met Anorexia Nervosa. Introduction: Anorexia Nervosa treatment is multidisciplinary. Despite comprehensive treatment, recovery rates are found to be low and relapse rates high. It is often seen that (former) eating disorder patients still exhibit restrictive eating behaviour a few years after treatment. 'Intuitive Eating' Wetenschap | Origineel artikel26 Voeding & Visie jaargang 36, nummer 1 2023 is a science-based method that can help restore the relationship with food and learn to trust the body again. This study was designed to find out how Intuitive Eating can best be implemented in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa in dietetic practice. Method: To identify the (eating) behavior during and after the eating disorder and the effects of Intuitive Eating in Anorexia Nervosa, a literature search was conducted. The literature was searched in the following databases: CataloguePlus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Pubmed. Next, qualitative research was conducted among 17 women, aged 15-35 years who were being treated for Anorexia Nervosa or who have completed this treatment less than 5 years ago. They were asked about their opinions and preferences in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Results: The results of the literature review revealed that Intuitive Eating is associated with positive treatment outcomes in the recovery from Anorexia Nervosa, but that application is only possible after a period of refeeding through a structured eating schedule has taken place. The in-depth interviews revealed that the order of the principles appears to be important for the successful application of Intuitive Eating. There seems to be a greater chance of misusing certain principles of Intuitive Eating at the beginning of treatment, as some principles might be used as an excuse to eat less or exercise extra, thus continuing the eating disorder behavior. Principles focused on recognizing the eating disorder, body image and dealing with emotions can possibly be applied early in treatment. Principles focused on listening to hunger and satiety signals, exercise and healthy eating are seen as pitfalls and can possibly only be applied later. Conclusion: In order for the application of Intuitive Eating in Anorexia Nervosa to be successful, it seems important to take into account the order in which the principles are introduced. Considering the phase in which certain principles can be applied might make the difference to successful treatment and possibly reduces the likelihood of the patient misusing the principles. The flowchart: "Implementing Intuitive Eating in Recovery from Anorexia Nervosa" can be used as an aid in applying Intuitive Eating to patients with Anorexia Nervosa.
Along with the rapidly growing number of disabled people participating in competitive sports, there is an increased need for (para)medical support in disability sports. Disabled athletes experience differences in body composition, metabolism, training load and habitual activity patterns compared with non-disabled athletes. Moreover, it has been suggested that the well-recognized athlete triad, and low energy availability and low bone mineral density in particular, is even a greater challenge in disabled athletes. Therefore, it is not surprising that sport nutritionists of disabled athletes have expressed an urgency for increased knowledge and insights on the nutritional demands of this group. This project aims to investigate energy expenditure, dietary intake, body composition and bone health of disabled athletes, ultimately leading to nutritional guidelines that promote health and optimal sports performance for this unique population. For this purpose, we will conduct a series of studies and implementation activities that are inter-related and build on the latest insights from sports practice, technology and science. Our international consortium is highly qualified to achieve this goal. It consists of knowledge institutes including world-leading experts in sport and nutrition research, complemented with practical insights from nutritionists working with disabled athletes and the involvement of athletes and teams through the Dutch and Norwegian Olympic committees. The international collaboration, which is a clear strength of this project, is not only focused on research, but also on the optimization of professional practice and educational activities. In this regard, the outcomes of this project will be directly available for practical use by the (para)medical staff working with disabled athletes, and will be extensively communicated to sport teams to ensure that the new insights are directly embedded into daily practice. The project outcomes will also be incorporated in educational activities for dietetics and sport and exercise students, thereby increasing knowledge of future practitioners.
Along with the rapidly growing number of disabled people participating in competitive sports, there is an increased need for (para)medical support in disability sports. Disabled athletes experience differences in body composition, metabolism, training load and habitual activity patterns compared with non-disabled athletes. Moreover, it has been suggested that the well-recognized athlete triad, and low energy availability and low bone mineral density in particular, is even a greater challenge in disabled athletes. Therefore, it is not surprising that sport nutritionists of disabled athletes have expressed an urgency for increased knowledge and insights on the nutritional demands of this group. This project aims to investigate energy expenditure, dietary intake, body composition and bone health of disabled athletes, ultimately leading to nutritional guidelines that promote health and optimal sports performance for this unique population. For this purpose, we will conduct a series of studies and implementation activities that are inter-related and build on the latest insights from sports practice, technology and science. Our international consortium is highly qualified to achieve this goal. It consists of knowledge institutes including world-leading experts in sport and nutrition research, complemented with practical insights from nutritionists working with disabled athletes and the involvement of athletes and teams through the Dutch and Norwegian Olympic committees. The international collaboration, which is a clear strength of this project, is not only focused on research, but also on the optimization of professional practice and educational activities. In this regard, the outcomes of this project will be directly available for practical use by the (para)medical staff working with disabled athletes, and will be extensively communicated to sport teams to ensure that the new insights are directly embedded into daily practice. The project outcomes will also be incorporated in educational activities for dietetics and sport and exercise students, thereby increasing knowledge of future practitioners.
