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As Registered Dietitians, we help teens and adults trust their bodies & fall in love with food again.

temecula dietitians

Health is More than Our Choices

Health is more than the sum of our food choices and how much we choose to exercise. It is also the air we breathe, our family history, the neighborhood we live in, the color of our skin, and so much more.

Our environment has huge influence on our health.

“Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources. Research has shown that the inequities of this distribution for those facing poor social and economic circumstances can have lasting effects on an individual’s health” (mphsalud.org)

Here are some examples of SDOH you may not have thought of:

Buying only as many groceries as you can carry because you take the bus to the store
Being penalized for missing work or school to go to a doctor appointment
Living in a neighborhood where it is not safe to play outside
Having a high stress life and using substances as a coping strategy
Living in a city with high pollution exacerbating respiratory issues
Struggling to understand food labels or medication labels if English is not your primary language

Because of SDOH, marginalized populations often having higher rates of chronic diseases, through no fault of their own. And, marginalized people often experience multiple social determinants of health that compound their higher health risks. This concept is called health inequity.

One of our dietitians, Dietitian Sarah, is a public health expert.Dietitian Sarah shares research about how individual choice is just one part of the equation of health. Health is also influenced by federal, state, and local laws; media, access to community programs, hospitals, schools, and parks; family structure, support networks, and relationships.

So, what does this mean?

It means that our dietitians here at Temecula Dietitians will ask questions about more than just “What are you eating?” because we know that overall health is more than that.

Several ways Temecula Dietitians addresses SDOH in our clients:

Accepting many insurances to increase access to our services
Expanding Telehealth appointment availability to decrease transportation barriers
Considering food access when making suggestions to our clients
And more!