Nutritional Therapy

Nutritionists work with adult and pediatric patients who suffer from diseases where the only form of care is nutritional treatment (e.g. celiac disease and food allergies), or where nutritional treatment is crucial in terms of good care (e.g. kidney diseases, eating disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, pulmonary diseases, diabetes, and cancer). Nutritionists are also responsible for nutritional therapy for neurological patients and patients who are at risk of malnutrition.

A nutritionist investigates the patient’s nutritional status and draws up an appropriate diet with regard to the patient’s disease and individual needs. In addition, the nutritionist supports and motivates the patient to follow the diet and helps him or her in challenging situations.

A nutritionist can be seen in specialist health care via a referral from Vaasa Central Hospital’s attending physician.