Ohio University’s nutritional treatment program is now offered through free telemedicine sessions, offered by the OU diet program.
The program moved to a fully telemedicine platform this fall, making it safer and easier for OU students, faculties, or staff to get nutritional advice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program consists of three hour-long nutritional counseling sessions, all conducted by study counselors who examine the dietary concentration of the applied nutrition major. This important requirement gives students practical experience as a nutritionist under the supervision of Jana Hovland, a professor of food and nutrition science.
The nutritional treatment program accepts customers interested in losing weight, controlling blood sugar, reducing the risk of heart disease through diet, or just improving overall eating habits, Hovland said. 21 consultants work to help an average of 30 community members per year.
“The advice is customer-centric, which means we focus on providing tips and strategies to help customers achieve their specific goals,” Hovland said in an email, citing examples such as nutrition to improve sports nutrition, develop a healthier one Relationship to food, weight gain weight loss and lowering of cholesterol. “Each customer creates two three-day food logs during the program, which our students analyze using the FoodProcessor software. The counselor and client use the 3-day food log to identify diet strengths as well as nutritional problems or gaps. “
According to Hovland, throughout the process, customers are asked to provide their height and weight, which is used to calculate the energy, protein needs and body composition of the screen.
Landry Price, a senior studying applied nutrition and dietetics, worked on the program and said there doesn’t have to be a specific diagnosis or reason for someone to apply to be part of the program.
“(The program) is an amazing opportunity for senior diet students to use their knowledge and prepare them for the real world while also benefiting customers,” Price said in an email. “I loved being a student advisor during the program. It was a great way to dip your toes into the world of nutritional advice while still having some structure and a diet professor with you. “
Pointing out the positive effect she believed the program had had on the community, Price said the fact that the program is free can help almost anyone associated with the university. It is always important to raise awareness about diet and its mental and physical effects.
Lauren Zidek also worked on the program, recently graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in food and nutrition science. She was the president of the OU Nutrition Club and claimed the program was an invaluable and educational experience on both ends.
“I strongly believe that this program has an impact on the community,” Zidek said in an email. “It is a step in the right direction to make our Athens community healthier and more educated.”
To learn more about the program or to register to participate, contact Hovland at [email protected] or 740-593-2875.
