Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: women's health and nutrition.

Within the past 10 years women's health has evolved to a much broader paradigm, beyond reproductive issues. From a physiological perspective, women's health now refers to the prevention, diagnosis, and management of conditions or diseases that may be unique to women, be more prevalent in women, or manifest differently in women than men. Women's health encompasses emotional, social, cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being. It is determined by the social, political, and economic context of women's lives. Nutrition is involved in the etiology or treatment of half of the 10 leading causes of death in women. The incidence of osteoporosis and extremes in body weight are approaching epidemic proportions in women. This position reviews the following health problems: cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, weight, and diabetes mellitus. Dietetics professionals are in the perfect position to understand the issues surrounding women's health in order to deliver a message to women that will allow them to make wise decisions regarding their health. Nutrition is a critical component of risk reduction and treatment, and must be included in clinical and preventive services for women. Dietetics professionals must work to increase their knowledge about women's health issues, to promote health and education programs, to influence policy makers, to deliver the highest-quality medical nutrition therapy, and to be proactive in documenting the effectiveness of outcomes-based research.