Health and Nutrition Economics: Dietitian and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Abstract

The relationship between nutrition and health economic outcomes is important at both in the individual and the population level. Nowadays, health-care systems are currently facing tremendous budget constraints resulting in growing pressure on decision makers and health-care providers to obtain the maximum possible health benefits of the resources available. Studies show that, face-to-face medical nutrition therapy by a dietitian for the treatment of disease led to significant improvements in clinical effectiveness and cost benefit. Development of an economic framework to evaluate costs and benefits from nutrition interventions and medical nutrition treatments are a potential area for future research. This review summarizes some studies of medical nutrition therapy in which health-related economic and clinical nutrition implications of the intervention by dietitians have been addressed.