TITLE:
Registered Dietitian Wellness Insurance Benefit Makes a Difference in Adult Weight Management: A Pre-Post Study
AUTHORS:
Linda Snetselaar, Karen L. Smith, Donna Hollinger, Esther Myers, Gwen Murphy, Laura Goettinger Qualls
KEYWORDS:
RD Nutrition Counseling, Insurance Benefit, Weight Loss, Blood Pressure
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.2 No.10,
December
19,
2011
ABSTRACT: Registered Dietitian (RD) services as part of insurance wellness programs offer a promising potential venue for improving public health. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of RD nutrition counseling services provided as part of an insurance benefit on body weight and associated health parameters. Eligible members could enroll to receive 6 RDs visits a year for assistance with weight management. The study RDs were randomized into either Usual Care (UC) or Lifestyle Case Management (LCM) groups. Body weight, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements of program enrollees were evaluated for between group as well as start and end program comparisons. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of RD follow-up visits between the two groups as LCM patients had more RD contact than UC patients. Weight and waist circumference changes from baseline to end of study show statistically significant changes with a trend for improvement in systolic blood pressure. Additionally, a clinically significant reduction in weight was achieved in a quarter of program enrollees. In conclusion this study shows that through a coordinated health promotion program RDs’ services are of value to an insured population.