A core function of the public health nutrition workforce is advocacy. Little is known of the nutritionists’ role in policymaking from a policy process theory perspective. The current study analyses the nutritionists’ role in advocating for a six-year governmental plan on obesity prevention in Quebec, Canada.

We conducted qualitative research using Quebec’s obesity policy as a case study to understand the role of nutritionists in advocating for obesity prevention policies. A conceptual framework combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework with a political analysis model based on the Theory of the Strategic Actor was developed to analyse the beliefs, interests and strategies of policy actors including nutritionists. Data sources comprised semi-structured open-ended interviews with key policy actors (n 25), including eight nutritionists (32 %) and policy-related documents (n 267). Data analysis involved thematic coding and analysis using NVivo 11 Pro.

Quebec, Canada.

Key policy actors including nutritionists.

Nutritionists formed the core of the dominant public health coalition. They advocated for an inter-sectoral governmental plan to prevent obesity through enabling environments. Their advocacy, developed through an iterative process, comprised creating a think tank and reinforcing partnerships with key policy actors, conducting research and developing evidence, communicating policy positions and advocacy materials, participating in deliberative forums and negotiating an agreement with other coalitions in the policy subsystem.

Nutritionists’ advocacy influenced agenda setting and policy formulation. This research may contribute to empowering the public health nutrition workforce and strengthening its advocacy practices. It informs practitioners and researchers concerned with obesity policy and workforce development.

The objective of this scoping review was to examine the research question: In the adults with or without cardiometabolic risk, what is the availability of literature examining interventions to improve or maintain nutrition and physical activity-related outcomes? Sub-topics included: (1) behaviour counseling or coaching from a dietitian/nutritionist or exercise practitioner, (2) mobile applications to improve nutrition and physical activity and (3) nutritional ergogenic aids.

The current study is a scoping review. A literature search of the Medline Complete, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and other databases was conducted to identify articles published in the English language from January 2005 until May 2020. Data were synthesised using bubble charts and heat maps.

Out-patient, community and workplace.

Adults with or without cardiometabolic risk factors living in economically developed countries.

Searches resulted in 19 474 unique articles and 170 articles were included in this scoping review, including one guideline, thirty systematic reviews (SR), 134 randomised controlled trials and five non-randomised trials. Mobile applications (n 37) as well as ergogenic aids (n 87) have been addressed in several recent studies, including SR. While primary research has examined the effect of individual-level nutrition and physical activity counseling or coaching from a dietitian/nutritionist and/or exercise practitioner (n 48), interventions provided by these practitioners have not been recently synthesised in SR.

SR of behaviour counseling or coaching provided by a dietitian/nutritionist and/or exercise practitioner are needed and can inform practice for practitioners working with individuals who are healthy or have cardiometabolic risk.

Primary care is an important area in which to confront situations of food and nutrition insecurity. To undertake action in this area, well-prepared professionals are necessary. Courses of health training are not yet, however, equipped to offer the necessary preparation.

To analyse the topics taught in nutrition graduation courses related to the abilities and competencies demanded by professional work in this area.

The curricula of the nutrition courses offered in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil were analysed. Nutritionists and teachers were interviewed. The triangulation of the data obtained was undertaken by means of a qualitative approach taking the theory of social representations as the frame of reference.

The concepts necessary to act within the context of food and nutrition security are related to a humanistic approach, the unity of theory and practice, the nutritionist’s role as educator, teamwork and reflection on public health.