The rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is a global public health concern. Unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity increase the risk or severity of major NCDs such as obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, some cancers, and depression. Primary prevention or treatments to combat NCDs include the adoption of a healthy diet without energy excess, routine physical activity, reducing sedentary time, and maintenance of a healthy body weight. Technological innovations, such as digital measurement of DI and PA, have become widely accepted and are increasingly used to assess and monitor lifestyle behavior. Recently, the need for physical distancing because of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), has revealed an additional urgent and dynamic use of valid and reliable technology in health care. Providers aspire that digital tools and telehealth platforms will help them to continue to provide health care even when face-to-face interactions with clients are imprudent or impossible. Delivering nutrition care in a framework of telenutrition continues to grow as the health care environment evolves and adapts. However, whether increased demand for telenutrition will be supported by insurance coverage remains to be determined. Therefore, building a structure for the appropriate use of technology is vital to provide effective nutrition care in the COVID-19 era. While taking into account Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance, Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists (RDNs) and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered (NDTRs), are uniquely positioned to play an active role in the development, use, and evaluation of DI and PA related technology for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). This type of work is part of the practice area of nutrition informatics.
This work was supported by the emerging science efforts of the IAFNS Scientific Leadership Council.