Dietetics in the Digital Age: How Technology is Changing and How Nutrition and Dietetics Professionals Can Change With It

 Written By: Allie Kennebeck; SLU Dietetic Intern

The augmentation of technology is an ever-growing phenomenon in most of today’s society. Over the last 50 years, developments in technology – both hardware and software – have led to revolutions in the way we think, communicate, and perform. Through evolutions in computers, cell phones, search engines, and operating systems, our society has become hyper-fixated on increasing productivity and efficiency in all possible ways. When considering technological advancements in the medical field, developments are made with the end goal of increasing the efficiency and comprehensiveness of the entire patient experience, from diagnosis, to prognosis, to care, and beyond. For example, the transition from paper medical records to electronic medical records is an advancement that has reaped immense benefits in patient care by improving the accuracy and clarity of tests and treatment and by making the health information available to patients so that they may better make informed decisions about their care.

The concept of technological advancements can also be applied to the field of dietetics. As populations of health-conscious individuals seem to be expanding, technology is also growing to capitalize on this growing market. Nutrition software such as MyFitnessPal and MyFoodDiary is growing in prevalence due to its ability to act as a comprehensive nutrition tool to meet certain nutrition-related goals such as weight loss or diabetes management. Consumers can also monitor their health through wearable devices such as continuous glucose monitors (e.g., Dexcom), smart watches and rings (e.g., the Apple Watch, Whoop band, or Oura ring), fertility trackers (e.g., the Ava Fertility Tracker), hydration sensors (e.g., the Nix Hydration Biosensor), and electrical muscle stimulation suits (e.g., Katalyst EMS suit). These devices are used to monitor parameters like blood glucose levels, heart rate and rhythm, sleep patterns, hydration status, and metabolic rate to get a more comprehensive perspective of health status. The rise in awareness of food allergies and intolerances has given way to new technologies in the form of food allergy panels and gut microbiome tests. Companies who offer these tests often provide individualized diet plans based on the results of their analyses to increase their perceived value. The company Habit is one such example. With Habit, a consumer will submit a sample of their stool for testing, and in return, the company will use the results of the stool test to curate a personalized list of superfoods that the consumer should incorporate into their diet, as well as a list of recipes that include those given superfoods. Moreover, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, other technological advancements to the field of dietetics are forecasted to be seen in the implementation of real-time data collection of crop growth with the use of hardware like drones and sensors; the automation of food processing (harvesting, sorting, packaging, etc.); the advancement of virtual patient care (e.g. telehealth; telenutrition); and the facilitation of communication between nutrition professionals and their peers.

 

And let’s not forget one of the most prominent conversations regarding the augmentation of technology today: artificial intelligence.

 

What is Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning?

 

Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of humans or animals. It is the subject of an eponymous field of study in computer science, which develops and studies intelligent machines.

Machine learning is the use and development of computer systems that are able to learn and adapt without following explicit instructions, by using algorithms and statistical models to analyze and draw inferences from patterns in data.

 

The use of AI in the medical field has been seen with helping to understand complex biological phenomena, diagnose diseases, predict clinical outcomes, and design novel therapeutics. When considering its role in nutrition and dietetics, artificial intelligence may be used to help with dietary intake tracking and nutrition data collection/synthesis/analysis, the curation of meal plans, and even the delivery of basic nutrition education. Certain nutrition-based AI applications are already rising in popularity, marketed as tools to make personalized nutrition more accessible to the public. For example, the FitGenie app is a nutrition application that uses artificial intelligence to calculate nutritional needs and formulate meal plans and grocery lists based on the consumer’s health goals.

 

So, what does this mean for dietitians?

 

The exponential rise in prevalence of technology we see today means that it is the inevitable responsibility of all healthcare professionals to adapt their skills in coordination with these advancements. The same holds true for dietitians. As nutrition professionals, it is our responsibility to provide accurate information to the public and to advocate for the utility of the profession. It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that “in addition to leveraging and helping clients navigate new technologies, RDNs and NDTRs can [and should] bring nutrition expertise to the development of new tools, support data integrity, and ensure that technologies enhance rather than detract from human nutrition and health equity.”

 

And how do we do that?

With the expansion of technology, the RDN should strive to maintain awareness and critical evaluation of current information and evidence in circulation. It is imperative that nutrition professionals are cognizant of new technologies as they arise to ensure that these tools are providing meaningful and relevant information. Dietitians must also analyze these new tools to determine their potential benefits and risks related to health, equity, and privacy. It is the obligation of the RDN to advise against any technology that does not provide accurate, safe, evidence-based nutrition guidance or protocol.

 

Dietitians must also advocate for their role in the development of these technologies. Many health-oriented companies create products without the input from a registered dietitian, which then exacerbates much of the disconnect between true evidence-based nutrition protocol and nutrition popular culture. By being involved in the development of health-oriented software and hardware, RDNs may be better able to ensure that populations are receiving quality nutrition information. 

 

Finally, to capitalize on the growth of nutrition informatics and technology, it is imperative that dietitians are willing and able to pivot their skills to fit new demands as they arise. For example, the implementation of social media in one’s practice can be an effective tool to achieve personal professional growth (e.g., utilizing platforms to acquire new clients for a private practice), to improve circulating nutrition narratives by providing accurate, evidence-based information, and to increase awareness of the utility of the profession. When considering AI and machine learning, there is a serious concern that the application of artificial intelligence will effectively cause partial replacement of dietitians. A large section of a dietitian’s scope of practice is to provide individualized nutrition guidance. Therefore, if AI continues to advance in its ability to curate nutrition protocols for the individual, then it is crucial that the dietitian can provide additional value that AI cannot. This will come in the form of interpersonal skills such as nutrition counseling and education. By using the latest nutrition technology and artificial intelligence in their practice, dietitians can simplify their workflow to allow for more time for human-to-human contact to promote a more lasting impact on their patients and clients.

 

In conclusion, the permeation of new technology into the field of nutrition and dietetics is inevitable, and therefore, nutrition professionals must be well-equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to acclimate to today’s tech-driven culture. Dietitians are incredibly vital components of the healthcare system, but we must not fall behind the times. We have the capability to impose lasting impacts on people so long as we are technologically competent and can find ways to integrate new technologies into our practice. In doing so, we may be better able to improve nutrition-related knowledge amongst the general population as well as expand awareness of our impact.

 

Limketkai, B. N., Mauldin, K., Manitius, N., Jalilian, L., & Salonen, B. R. (2021). The Age of Artificial Intelligence: Use of Digital Technology in Clinical Nutrition. Current surgery reports, 9(7), 20.

 

Paraskevi Detopoulou, Gavriela Voulgaridou, Panagiotis Moschos, Despoina Levidi, Thelma Anastasiou, Vasilios Dedes, Eirini- Maria Diplari, Nikoleta Fourfouri, Constantinos Giaginis, Georgios I. Panoutsopoulos, Sousana K. Papadopoulou, Artificial intelligence, nutrition, and ethical issues: A mini-review, Clinical Nutrition Open Science, Volume 50, 2023, Pages 46-56, ISSN 2667-2685

 

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (n.d.). Navigating future practice: Technology - Eatrightpro.org. eatrightPRO. https://www.eatrightpro.org/-/media/files/eatrightpro/practice/cfp-brief-technology-final.pdf