The opinion of KwaZulu-Natal dietitians regarding the use of a whole-foods plant-based diet in the management of non-communicable diseases

Abstract

Background: International studies have highlighted the benefit of using a whole-food, plant-based diet (WFPBD) in the revention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It is imperative to gather the opinions of dietitians on this diet, in order to assess whether it is a suitable treatment option for the prevention of NCDs in South Africa.
Objective: The aim was to determine whether dietitians would use a WFPBD to address NCDs, by assessing their opinions on the enefits and barriers of this diet.
Methods: A cross-sectional study, using an online survey of dietitians who are practising in KwaZulu-Natal (n = 101).
Results: Dietitians who work for the government were significantly more likely to have patients with NCDs referred than dietitians in private practice. The subjects reported that the training surrounding WFPBD was inadequate at university level; however, a significant sample was confident about prescribing this diet and they were interested in improving their knowledge on this topic. The strongest perceived benefits of a WFPBD were its association with improved fibre intake and the reduced consumption of saturated fats. The strongest barriers against prescribing a WFPBD were the lack of public awareness concerning the diet and personal preference for the consumption of meat and animal-sourced foods.
Conclusion: Although the general opinion of a WFPBD was positive, the perceived barriers indicated suggest that this diet may be difficult to implement for the management of NCDs, particularly in the poverty-stricken areas of South Africa.