#Japan #Fukuoka #Eatas #Nakamura Gakuen #nutrition skills

Collaborative Research on Nutrition Guidance

Nakamura Gakuen University in Fukuoka City and eatas Co., Ltd. have embarked on an exciting joint research initiative aimed at enhancing the skills of nutritionists based on a dataset of over 1,000 individuals involved in nutrition and dietary guidance. This project aims not only to demonstrate effective counseling skills but also to develop an educational program that translates into tangible results for clients. The research is spearheaded by Professor Omi from the Faculty of Nutrition Science at Nakamura Gakuen University, alongside the support of eatas.

Background: The Need for Enhanced Counseling Skills

In recent years, the demand for personalized nutritional support has increased, placing greater emphasis on nutritionists not only transmitting knowledge but also understanding their clients’ lifestyles to facilitate behavior changes. However, traditional education has primarily focused on classroom learning and role-playing among students, falling short in imparting the advanced conversational skills required in real-life counseling situations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish an evidence-based educational program that can effectively meet societal demands.

Goals: Validating Effective Guidance Through Data

The study leverages a vast collection of nutritional guidance data amassed by eatas, including interview videos, chat history, body composition changes, and behavior change records, from over 1,000 users. The targeted processes of this research include:

1. Analyzing and Visualizing Counseling Skills

By connecting counseling outcomes with dialogue content, we aim to extract specific conversational skills that contribute to building trust and fostering behavior changes.

2. Statistical Verification

We will statistically analyze the correlation between counseling skills and outcomes to establish objective evaluation metrics for gauging educational effectiveness.

3. Developing an Educational Model

By classifying and modeling the characteristics of successful dialogue based on real-world cases, we plan to elevate these findings into highly effective educational programs and materials.

Future Directions: Advancing the Profession of Nutritionists

The educational framework developed through this research is intended for adoption by training institutions for nutritionists, such as universities and vocational schools, as well as for continuing education programs for practicing professionals. By standardizing and disseminating 'skills that lead to results,' we aim to elevate the overall education standards in the nutrition field. This will contribute to enhancing the social status of nutritionists as professionals, while promoting a community where everyone can access high-quality personal dietary guidance.

Commentary from eatas President

Eiko Teshima, the President of eatas Co., expressed her enthusiasm for this collaboration with her alma mater, Nakamura Gakuen University. She emphasized that the role of nutritionists extends far beyond merely sharing nutritional knowledge. Nutritionists serve as companions, guiding individuals through their unique life challenges towards voluntary behavior changes. According to Teshima, the fundamental interpersonal support skills that are critical for this role have long been subject to personal interpretation and experience, making standardization in education challenging. The joint research aims to visualize the practical data accumulated by eatas and develop a scientific educational model to ensure that all nutritionists can confidently achieve measurable results. The collaboration with Nakamura Gakuen University is seen as a vital step forward in enhancing the expertise of nutritionists, ultimately contributing to the betterment of public health.

For further details, visit:
Nakamura Gakuen University
eatas Co., Ltd.

Additionally, eatas has developed a personalized dietary guidance app called 'eat+' that utilizes corporate service data to provide dietary coaching support by nutritionists to clinics and employees at various organizations. Through a unique 'type-based coaching' nutritional management method, effective dietary guidance is now achievable online as well.

For more information on eatas services, discover their offerings here.