There has been an increase in calls for SIBO, autoimmune diseases or intolerances.

VALENCIA (EP). The Official College of Nutritionists and Dietitians of the Valencian Community (CODiNuCoVa) reported this Friday that they are detecting a “significant increase” in the number of consultations related to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), diet-related autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease. diseases and other intolerances such as fructose or lactose, which will also be the “protagonists” of visits to these specialists in the coming years.

These types of pathologies are increasingly affecting the young population; previously they were not so common, but “will be maintained over time and even increase due to dietary habits population and the impact of external agents“as explained Luis CabanasPresident of CODiNuCoVa, who foresees that “they will form the bulk of our consultations in the coming years.”

To mark World Dietitian Day, the collegiate organization surveyed its members to find out which direction the profession is heading in the near future. These disorders are characterized by severe abdominal pain, bloating, or even poor absorption of certain nutrients, and can cause “serious health problems if left untreated” in sufferers.

Therefore, “the role of the dietitian nutritionist in the management and treatment of these pathologies is important to accompany patients in the process of adapting their diet to new habits that adapt to their needs and improve their quality of life,” he said. Cabins.

TCAs and Hormonal Health

In addition to these pathologies, they warned about other emerging areas in their consultations: eating disorders (ED) and nutrition applied to women’s fertility or hormonal health.

“Mental health is one of the public health issues we face as a society. And moving into the area of ​​nutrition, we see that there is a trend towards an increase in ED consultations among an increasingly younger population due to the use of social media, which can cause excessive concerns about physical image in young people,” he warned. Maite Navarro

Member of the Professional Health Association.

To treat this type of pathology, it is necessary to work “in a coordinated manner with other health care professionals, bringing together dietitians in multidisciplinary teams in both the hospital and primary care settings to address the pathology from a psychological point of view.” medical, etc.,” Navarro said.

On the other side, There is growing “scientific evidence” about how a proper diet affects women’s hormonal health and fertility.. These studies mean that more and more nutritionists are being trained in this area, who believe that it will take up more and more space in consultations and will continue to do so in the coming years.

“We also found a third area where consultations have increased: non-professional sports nutrition. This is due to the fact that the population is increasingly aware that the practice of physical activity is associated not only with aesthetics, but also with improving the quality of health. In the coming years, the presence of nutritionists in amateur sports, and not just in the field of high performance, will be much greater,” commented Luis Cabanas. In fact, 22 percent of the College of Dietitians surveyed specialize in this area.

Profile of most nutritionists

As stated by CODiNuCoVa, the profile of nutritionists has changed over time. “Currently, 65% of our members surveyed are self-employed, and more than half, 57%, are engaged in clinical consultation,” explains the organization’s president. Another of the areas in which nutritionists practice most is collective nutrition, where more than 18% of them operate.

Other areas in which they carry out their work are, for example, teaching, food education or the food industry.