 February 2003 • Volume 9 • Number 2 |
Adults with high cholesterol and other risk factors for cardiovascular or other diet-related chronic disease should receive intensive behavioral dietary counseling, says a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This counseling may be provided by primary care physicians or through referral to dietitians or nutritionists.
The Jan. 2 recommendation is a B recommendation, meaning that clinicians should routinely offer the dietary counseling to eligible patients. In classifying it as B level, the USPSTF has at least fair evidence that the dietary counseling would improve important health outcomes and has concluded that benefits outweigh harms.
The evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine dietary counseling in the general adult population, the task force said, but patients with known risks for cardiovascular disease can benefit from a combination of education about healthy diet and behavioral modification counseling.
Go to http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsdiet.htm to view the recommendation and related materials, including a press release.
The AAFP Commission on Clinical Policies and Research discussed the USPSTF recommendations at its Jan. 16 18 meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Further review is planned before the commission decides whether to act in response to the recommendation.
FP Report is
published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2003 by American Academy of Family Physicians.