A crackdown on quacks masquerading as nutritionists duping and misleading Kenyans on social media has intensified amid concerns of increased lifestyle diseases occasioned by poor diet choices.
This is according to the Kenya Institute of Nutritionists and Dieticians Institution (KNDI).
Speaking during the licensing of 1, 089 nutritionists and dieticians at the institution in Mlolongo the regulatory body decried that misinformation continues to largely affect healthy living and increase lifestyle diseases.
The institution's CEO David Okeyo says the regulatory body has embarked on a major crackdown on quack nutritionists both on social media and also sent media advisory on quacks representing diet experts to avert misleading the general public.
"It is a crime to give misleading information that is likely to harm the health of a person. As a regulatory body, we are concerned about the misinformation and we are carrying out a social media major crackdown to ensure that we tame these rogue people. The qualified experts are listed and the list is available in the public domain, "Okeyo said.
Okeyo further stated that the regulatory body is carrying out key sensitizations to urge the public to embrace the guidance of qualified nutritionists to help boost healthy eating habits as well as focus on preventive disease measures compared to curative measures.
"Dieticians and nutritionists have for long been neglected and ignored while they play a very key role in health. You will find that during internships at institutions, nutritionists are not given any stipend. I want to urge the ministry of health to embrace these experts," he added.
It was also noted that females' excellent performance largely outshines their male counterparts.
"There is a worrying trend that sees the boy child lag behind in terms of excellence. Much emphasis has been put on empowering the girl child such that in a licensing event like this women outshine men by a wide margin in terms of excellence," Okeyo stated.
Most licensed graduands said the major challenge in the profession remains being ignored as the larger population assumes that proper nutrition has no role to play in health matters.
"You are as good as what you consume. You can consume health and slowly consume poison that gradually affects your health leading to lifestyle diseases that require expensive treatment," Professor Nguka head of accreditation at KNDI stated.
The team further urged Kenyans to detest from too much unhealthy eating during this festive period saying it has adverse effects on health.
