Doctor know little
How much do health professionals really know about nutrition?
Not much it seems… In this study 400 health professionals were interviewed and it was found that 80 per cent had not attended a nutrition course in the previous five years. Only a third could provide a correct definition of a vegetarian and vegan diet and just 20 per cent could answer questions about nutrients correctly. Just 45 per cent were able to demonstrate knowledge about the risks and benefits of adopting a plant-based diet. This study was conducted in Italy, but it seems highly likely we would get similar results in the UK.
Bettinelli ME et al. 2019. Knowledge of Health Professionals Regarding Vegetarian Diets from Pregnancy to Adolescence: An Observational Study. Nutrients. 11 (5).
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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