Are Registered Dietitians Following the food Guide Pyramid?

Abstract

From a pool of 1020 active registered dietitians in a Mid-Western state4n the US, 120 ELD (RDs who had been practicing in dietetics for 3yrs or less) and 200 NELD (RDs who had been practicing in dietetics longer than 3yrs) were randomly selected and mailed a 57-item food frequency questionnaire that included portions sizes used in the Food Guide Pyramid. Of the 320 questionnaires mailed, responses were usable only from 55 ELD and 120 NELD. There was no significant difference in compliance between ELD and NELD in the bread, meat, milk and fruit groups. In the bread group, more ELD (82.1%) then NELD (79.3%) met the recommended servings. Compliance in the meat group between ELD and NELD was 71.4% and 74.4%. In the milk group, the ELD were slightly more compliant (71.4%) then NELD (63.3%). Mean intake in the milk group, for ELD (2.32 servings/d) and NELD(2.23 scrvings/d), showed both groups met the recommended servings of the FGP. More NELD (71.1%) than ELD (69.9%) were in compliance with the FGP in the fruit group. The vegetable group had relatively low compliance with NELD (45.5%) having a higher compliance compared to ELD (33.9%). Greater than 80% of ELD and NELD indicated moderate (< 2 servings per day) of fats, sweets and oils. These results indicate that registered dietitians are not forgetting the importance of proper nutrition and its effects on good health as they continue in the profession. This data also suggests that registered dietitians are continuing to model positive dietary behaviors to improve the respect, credibility and effectiveness of the dietetic profession.