Dietitians and the Patient with Osteoporosis
DIETITIANS AND THE PATIENT WITH OSTEOPOROSIS: WHAT TO SAY ABOUT NUTRITION AND BONE HEALTH
What role can and should RDs play as educators on bone health? Bone health is critical to healthy aging and independence. Bone fractures can be debilitating, painful, disfiguring, and can increase morbidity and mortality. But as RDs we may not feel equipped to identify who is at risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis or how to help our patients improve bone health and prevent fractures.
Upon successful completion of this one-hour course, the participant should be able to:
  • Identify patients at risk for low bone density and fractures.


  • Explain how bone density changes over the lifespan using understandable terms and analogies.


  • Assess the key nutrient intake of patients/clients for bone health.


  • Teach patients/clients how to read food labels for calcium and vitamin D.


  • Discuss food and supplements for calcium and vitamin D.


  • Develop, in collaboration with your client or patient, a bone healthy eating and supplement plan that will provide the necessary nutrients for optimal bone health.


  • Modify the bone health plan to fit in with other chronic diseases the patient/client may have and honor their food and eating preferences.


  • Describe the general categories of osteoporosis medications and their role in bone health in an accurate, understandable way to patients/clients.
Live Webinar Date: Mar 19, 2025   (04:00 PM - 05:00 PM Eastern Time) (US and Canada)
Performance Indicators/Learning Objectives: 9.1.1, 9.1.2, 9.2.4, 10.1.2, 10.6.9
Target Audience: RDs, DTRs, Health Professionals
Number of Credits: 1.0
Level(s): 1, 2
Total Cost: 1 Site Credit
About the Presenter: Beth Kitchin, PhD, RDN, LDN
Beth Kitchin

Beth Kitchin, PhD, RDN, LDN earned her undergraduate degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, her master's degree in human nutrition and foods from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and her Ph. D. in health education and promotion in UAB's School of Public Health. She retired from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022 to focus on her recovery from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.At UAB, shetaught students about nutrition science, counseling, and health communications. In her clinical practice, she educated patients at the UAB Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Clinic. She has been a regular, weekly nutrition and health guest correspondent on Birmingham’s Good Day Alabama morning show for over 25 years. She blogs at www.thekitchinsink.com.