Nutritional advice in Canadian family practice.

The National Health Survey in Canada found that 40% of adults and teenagers are overweight or suffer from poor nutrition. Frail elderly, in particular, are at high risk for poor nutrition. Medical students and family medicine residents have some exposure to nutritional issues during their training. A national survey of family doctors found that only 16% had direct access to a dietitian in their practice. Canada's dietitians usually work in hospitals or for public health departments in the universally accessible publicly funded health care system. A whole community strategy to review guidelines, select the most evidence-based guidelines on any topic, and disseminate them to more than 50 communities is described. This strategy is expected to result in family physicians following evidence-based guidelines more closely than in the past. If this plan is effective, there should be a measurable improvement in the province's health and nutritional status.