Why do some #doctors do not include advice on #diet and #exercise in their #treatment plan for #patients?
1. It is clear that with modifications in diet & #lifestyle and exercise; we can prevent, control, reduce the severity or cure diseases and improve patient's quality of life.
1. It is clear that with modifications in diet & #lifestyle and exercise; we can prevent, control, reduce the severity or cure diseases and improve patient's quality of life.
2. Still we see that patients are given options of medicines and surgery but very little advice about diet and exercise, even though these don't cost much (in comparison to other medical interventions). Patients almost always ask for these advices though.
3. What could be the reasons?
a. There are fewer research papers on role of diet and exercise in disease prevention and treatment. This is not a surprise, as most of the research is pharma-funded, and #Pharmaceuticals have little to gain if diet/exercise prove to be beneficial.
a. There are fewer research papers on role of diet and exercise in disease prevention and treatment. This is not a surprise, as most of the research is pharma-funded, and #Pharmaceuticals have little to gain if diet/exercise prove to be beneficial.
3b. There is very little time devoted during our medical training on the role of diet and exercise. >90% of textbooks or teaching by professors are devoted to drugs, surgeries or device interventions. So, doctors do not get knowledge about diet/exercise/lifestyle modification.
3c. Most doctors themselves lead a sedentary life (owing to various reasons including excess workload) and have no first-hand knowledge of effects of diet and exercise. The mainstream medical journals too do not publish much about diet and exercise.
4. What is the way out?
Doctors from academic centers should conduct research on role of diet & exercise in diseases. Governments can allocate funding. It is a win-win for govt, as disease prevention would save substantial money (and life) rather than spending only on treatment.
Doctors from academic centers should conduct research on role of diet & exercise in diseases. Governments can allocate funding. It is a win-win for govt, as disease prevention would save substantial money (and life) rather than spending only on treatment.
5. There should be adequate exposure of role of diet and exercise in diseases during MBBS as well as in post graduate medical training.
6. Doctors should be encouraged to follow diet and exercise (to gain first hand knowledge as well as to get healthier and increase longevity).
6. Doctors should be encouraged to follow diet and exercise (to gain first hand knowledge as well as to get healthier and increase longevity).
7. Take home message:
A doctor's prescription is incomplete unless the advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle are included.
(Disclaimer: It is not an anti-doctor message. I respect all my fellow doctors as I know how hard we all work for betterment of our patients)
#MedTwitter
A doctor's prescription is incomplete unless the advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle are included.
(Disclaimer: It is not an anti-doctor message. I respect all my fellow doctors as I know how hard we all work for betterment of our patients)
#MedTwitter
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