Nutrition Informatics

Abstract

Nutrition experts have used computers and electronic media since the early introduction of computer systems 4 decades ago ( 1 Youngwirth J. The evolution of computers in dietetics A review. J Am Diet Assoc. 1983; 82: 62-67 Google Scholar , 2 Hoover L.W. Computers in dietetics State of the art, 1976. J Am Diet Assoc. 1976; 68: 39-41 Google Scholar ). Once the availability of computer systems became widespread in the 1960s, dietetics professionals looked to the new tools to help decrease costs, eliminate task redundancy, and increase efficiency. The use of the “digital electronic computer” for nutrition tasks, although not widespread, was seen in almost every aspect of nutrition care before 1990 ( 3 Tullis I.F. Lawson V. Williams R. The digital computer in calculating dietary data. J Am Diet Assoc. 1965; 65: 384-386 Google Scholar ). L. B. Hoggle is a project management consultant, Health Pathways, Inc, Gaithersburg, MD. M. A. Michael is chief, Clinical Nutrition Services S. M. Houston is a senior project manager and nurse informaticist E. J. Ayres is assistant director for Ethics and Technology Development, all with the NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.