When diet success depends on more than one person
Imagine this: you decide to change your eating habits based on medical advice. At first, motivation is high, but weeks later, routine wins the battle. You abandon the plan. This scene, repeated millions of times, reveals a critical problem in nutrition: only 50% of patients maintain adherence to nutritional treatments long-term. But what if it's not just the patient's fault? Recent studies show that adherence is a collaborative process between the professional and the person receiving treatment. In this article, we explore why effective nutrition requires a "team of two," backed by revealing science.
Adherence isn't just "following a diet." It encompasses:
Habits, self-efficacy, and motivation.
Trust in the nutritionist and clear communication.
Food costs, time to cook, or lack of family support.
A key model is the Self-Determination Theory: patients adhere better when they feel autonomy (choice), competence (ability), and connection (professional support).
Objective: Analyze how the nutritionist-patient relationship impacts adherence.
| Group | High Adherence (%) | Moderate Adherence (%) | Dropout (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 35% | 40% | 25% |
| B | 72% | 23% | 5% |
Group B showed 2x more high adherence. The key difference: quality of the professional-patient relationship.
| Parameter | Group A (Reduction) | Group B (Reduction) |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose | -8% | -15% |
| LDL Cholesterol | -6% | -12% |
| Index | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Trust in professional | 65% | 94% |
| Feeling of support | 58% | 89% |
Adherence improves when nutritionists co-design treatments and prioritize emotional connection. This reduces dropouts and optimizes clinical outcomes.
Measures adherence through self-report
Example: Validate diet reliability
Real-time food tracking
Example: MyFitnessPal, Noom
Objectify physiological changes
Example: Vitamin D, glucose levels
Strengthens commitment
Example: Guide decision making
Adherence in nutrition is not a solitary journey. As science shows, successful treatments emerge when nutritionists and patients work as partners: one provides expertise, the other self-knowledge. Investing in this alliance not only improves health indicators... it transforms nutrition into an act of co-responsibility.
"The best treatment is the one the patient can and wants to follow"
If you're in a nutritional process, evaluate: does your professional listen to your barriers? Do you feel they decide with you? The answer could predict your success.