The
WAVE is an acronym that health care providers can use
to discuss nutrition and physical activity during patients’
routine visits:
W
= Weight
A
= Activity
V
= Variety
E
= Excess
Providers
can choose to discuss these issues in any order. These
issues can also be addressed separately or in any combination
over several office visits. The entire protocol should
take approximately 5-10 minutes.
Patients
value what their providers say. When you introduce and
stress the importance of nutrition and physical activity,
patients are more likely to initiate behavior changes.
The
WAVE protocol can be reproduced on a laminated 5 X 7 card
that can be carried conveniently in lab coat pockets,
if desired. WAVE
Pocket Guide PDF*
Objectives
of the WAVE pocket guide:
-
Provide
a quick tool for primary care providers to discuss weight,
physical activity and eating habits with their adult
patients.
-
Present
a 4-letter acronym that is easy to remember and use
in provider-patient interactions.
-
Identify weight, nutrition and physical activity issues
that need to be addressed during the office visit or
by referral to a dietitian.
-
Reinforce
the importance of nutrition and physical activity in
health promotion and disease prevention.
The
WAVE nutrition pocket guide was developed by Claudia Barner
PhD, RD, Judith Wylie-Rosett EdD, RD, Kim Gans PhD, MPH,
LDN and members of the Patient and Practice Resources Committee,
NIH Nutrition Academic Award with funds from NIH NAA grant
HL03924.
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*You must have Acrobat Reader configured
on your computer to download the printable version of WAVE.
You may download
a free copy of acrobat reader at www.adobe.com.
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