Does a lack of formal training in exercise prescription influence the dieticians' decision to recommend exercise

The purpose of this study was (1) to get a sense of how many dietitians have formal training in exercise prescription or a "certification" in fitness, and (2) to determine if having formal training and/or a fitness certification influenced the dietitians to recommend exercise as part of a nutritional intervention. The names and addresses of 2,000 registered dietitians were purchased from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). The survey contained 20 questions with a cover letter explaining the purpose of the study and an Internet address to access the survey on line. Chi square analysis revealed that dietitians without an exercise/fitness certification were still likely to recommend exercise to their clients. In fact, although 3% of the sample was certified, 81% of the sample were likely to recommend exercise to their clients. The addition of exercise prescription to the dietetics education would benefit both the client and the dietitian.