AND Attempts to Cash in on Obesity

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is again trying to expand their monopoly, but this time at the federal level. In a House of Representatives bill (HR 2415), the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2013 which the AND is primarily responsible for creating this legislation would severely restrict the professionals that would be able to counsel obese patients.

Is it any wonder that the one group, AND, which is largely responsible for promoting the obesity with their high carbohydrate, whole grains teaching, would be trying to cash in on counseling the obese to keep them this way. Then when you look at their corporate sponsors, see my blog here, this is just another reason the AND must be removed from any position of responsibility in counseling people with obesity.

Registered dietitians (RDs) are allowed to perform services under Medicare part B, so why do they need special provisions that exclude and create special provisions that do not exist in federal law (the Social Security Act, which controls Medicare, provides equal treatment for RDs and other qualified nutrition professionals). Just more of the monopoly attempt by AND and a smaller choice for us as patients.

This is one reason I have sent my objections to my Representative and I hope you will consider this as well.

AND State Boards In Suspicious Activity

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is really playing dirty. This presently includes the states of North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and New York. This article does point out that states that do not have the legislation passed in the form desired by AND are doing much better that the states that have passed the legislation when nutrition is discussed. In other words, if you want to have your state ranked among the obese states, pass the stupid legislation.

The article does have fun with what the state of Colorado said about the AND legislation. If “AND were correct and the lack of regulation of nutrition endangers the public safety, then Colorado should be the epicenter of harm—yet it seems the reverse is true. In fact, in a 2007 letter, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies rebuked the Colorado Dietetic Association, which was at the time seeking an RD monopoly law, for failing to provide any evidence of harm caused by the unlicensed practice of nutrition professionals.”

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is attempting to become a monopoly in every state and limit their competition or put them out of business. This is a harm for everyone and limits our choice of whom we can seek for nutrition advice. The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) did the research and obtained copies under the freedom of information act of the activities on four of the states where the state AND boards have been the most active.

Currently, only twenty-four states have restrictive nutrition counseling laws. Fortunately, most states recognize the licensure has nothing to do with protecting the public health, and has everything to do with market share (creating a monopoly). You should review the map below to determine where you state is involved in this and then consider talking seriously with you state legislators to modify the law or repeal the law.

Please take time to read the article from the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) and follow many of the links within the article.

While I cannot support the ANH in 100 percent of what they advocate, in this endeavor, they have my support. You will need to decide your position and take action that you see reasonable for you.