Spanish dietitians lack public hospital presence despite obesity crisis, creating health inequality and future strain on healthcare.
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The president of the General Council of Official Dietitian-Nutritionist Orders states that dietitians are largely absent from public hospitals in Spain due to a lack of political will, despite evidence of their benefits. While some regions like Galicia and Catalonia have integrated them into primary care or established the role, they are scarce elsewhere. The current provision of nutritional services is covered by other professionals, but this creates an inequality where patients needing these services must pay privately, which is impossible for low-income individuals who suffer from high rates of childhood and adult obesity. Data shows that 55.8% of the Spanish population is overweight and 18.7% is obese, with higher prevalence among those with lower education or income in smaller towns. Experts warn that rising obesity rates pose a serious public health threat due to associated diseases like diabetes and cancer, which will strain the National Health System. A paradigm shift towards treating the root cause of obesity and its comorbidities is advocated, noting that excess weight is linked to over 200 health issues, including type 2 diabetes affecting 15% of Spaniards.
