Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health. Being overweight can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Diet is the cornerstone of effective weight management. Eating the right balance of foods in combination with being physically active is essential to weight management and overall good health. A healthy weight helps to prevent the development of many chronic diseases and makes it easier to go about our daily lives.
Useful resources
Check out the following websites for further information on diet and weight management;
There are weight management and healthy eating courses available in the community:
How a dietitian can help:
Dietitians are skilled in providing evidence based advice to help you to make healthy food choices to ensure you are getting the right balance of nutrients to meet your daily nutritional needs. A dietitian will help by working with you to identify realistic and attainable goals to help you to sustain a healthier lifestyle for weight management. If you need to see a Dietitian for a consultation ask your GP to refer you to the community dietitian in the area which you live. For Dietitians in private practice see the INDI website https://www.indi.ie/find-a-dietitian.html
Healthy Eating
Healthy eating is about having a varied, balanced diet and enjoying lots of different foods.
Getting started:
- Have three main meals daily and avoid skipping meals
- Eat a wide variety of foods
- Eat five + fruit and vegetables a day
- Choose brown/wholemeal bread and cereals instead of white
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks
- Drink adequate fluids (eight glasses a day, note alcholol is not counted as part of the daily fluid intake)
Links/ Useful resources
Check out the following websites for further information on healthy eating;
https://www.indi.ie/fact-sheets.html
http://www.safefood.eu/Healthy-Eating.aspx
http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/change/eat/
http://healthyfoodforall.com/
http://southsidepartnership.ie/other_programmes.php?id=152
How a dietitian can help
Sustainable weight loss and healthy eating advice programmes are more commonly conducted within the community setting. A dietitian will help by exploring your current dietary habits and collaborate on commencing alterations to dietary habits that are sustainable, realistic and achievable. If you need to see a Dietitian for a consultation ask your GP to refer you to the community dietitian in the area which you live. For Dietitians in private practice see the INDI website
Healthy Eating for Young Children
Good eating habits start from a young age. Healthy eating is about having a varied, balanced diet and enjoying lots of different foods.
Getting started:
- Have three main meals daily and avoid skipping meals
- Avoid fizzy and sugary drinks or drinking too much fruit juice
- Keep treats to once/twice per week, agree on ‘treat days’ and stick to these
- Aim to include five portions of fruit and vegetables every day
If you have concerns about your child’s diet and/or weight and your child is attending a consultant in the hospital, your consultant may recommend a dietitian referral.
How a dietitian can help
A dietitian will help by assessing your child’s weight, height and body mass index on the appropriate growth chart for your child’s age. She will assess your child’s current eating habits and provide advice on healthy eating. Individualised goals will be made to ensure that your child can make appropriate changes to his/her eating habits.
During your child's hospital stay
If there is a concern about your child’s eating habits when your child is an inpatient in the hospital the dietitian will see you to advise on age appropriate healthy eating.
After your hospital stay
If your child is followed up by the consultant in the hospital you may be offered an appointment with the dietitian in the outpatient department. Alternatively your child may be referred to the community nutrition and dietetic service for further input.
Links and Resources for more information:
