Nutrition

Brigham and Women's Hospital offers excellent outpatient medical nutrition therapy for your health needs.

Telephone: (617) 732-6054

Nutrition Consultation Services

The NCS provides a wide range of services, including the following:

• Individual nutrition counseling therapy for adults (and their families) needing dietary modifications for risk reduction and/or management of:

  Anorexia/Bulimia	Lactose intolerance
  Cancer	Liver disease
  Compulsive overeating	Menopause
  Congestive heart failure	Morning Sickness
  Drug-nutrient interactions	Nutrition supplements
  Eating disorders	Osteoporosis
  Enteral nutrition	Overweight & obesity
  Food allergies	Pancreatitis
  Gastrointestinal Disorders:  --Crohn's -- inflammatory bowel disease -- diverticulosis/diverticulitis	Pre- and post-surgery: -- Bone marrow transplant -- Cardiac transplant -- Gastroplasty -- Kidney transplant -- Thoracic surgery
  Gluten intolerance	Premenstrual Syndrome
  Heart disease	Pregnancies with twins & triplets
  High blood cholesterol or triglycerides	Prenatal and breast feeding nutrition
  High blood pressure	Sports Nutrition
  HIV/AIDS	Underweight
  Hypoglycemia	Weight control after childbirth
  Kidney (renal) disease

• Health-e-Weight for Women - Our website offers up-to-date, scientifically based information, advice, and tools. It's for anyone who would like to lose weight of learn more about good nutrition for themselves and their families.
  The site considers other factors that affect weight management in addition to calories. These are covered in four main sections: "Eating", "Exercising", "Emotions", and "Success Strategies" (practical tips). The behavioral pieces are what makes this a weight loss support site, rather than just a great nutrition site.

• Also Available:
  • Body Fat Analysis
  • Computerized Dietary Analysis
  • In addition to our patient and family care nutrition services, the NCS contracts with BWH departments, area businesses, agencies, and restaurants to provide nutrition consultation services. We also collaborate in research studies with diet-related protocols.

Our Approach

The NCS's approach is based on the premise that good nutrition is for everyone! Food is a great source of enjoyment, and the NCS maintains that this pleasure can prevail even for those faced with special dietary needs. Food is also a great source of health, and learning what to include can be as important as knowing what to avoid.

The NCS has served the hospital, its physicians, and the community for the past 45 years. Our registered dietitians provide current medical and scientific nutrition information as well as psychological strategies to ensure long-lasting changes in eating habits.

Our expertise goes far beyond the realm of food composition and the basic "do's" and "don'ts." We incorporate state-of-the-art behavior modification and cognitive attitude change strategies into our tailor-made programs to enhance dietary adherence. The individual attention each client receives helps to ensure that the principles of nutritional therapy are adapted into his or her lifestyle. Whether this is your first or fiftieth attempt to change your diet, the NCS approach offers you the best chance for success.

Scheduling

• Our main telephone number is (617) 732-6054
• We have several office locations for patient appointments, including:
  • 75 Francis St., Boston (BWH Ambulatory Services Building)
  • 850 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 5th Floor
• We also have staff at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, who are experts in cancer nutrition, if you are already a patient there.
• To find out if and how appointments are covered by your insurance plan, call the Customer Service number on our insurance card.  Medicare only covers nutrition counseling for diabetes and non-dialysis renal disease. A Primary Care Physician's referral with appropriate medical diagnosis is frequently required.  Referrals should be mailed, faxed (617-732-7024), phoned or brought into the clinic by the time of the first appointment.
• A referral for three visits from your insurance company is requested for most medical diagnoses.
• To prepare for an appointment, please collect pertinent laboratory results, a current medication list and bring the bottles of any vitamin/supplements you are taking. A record of all food, beverage and exercise for 3 days prior to the visit will contribute to a more thorough assessment. Click here for a convenient, printable form, although any piece of paper or notebook is adequate.
• Hours of operation vary by location. Call (617) 732-6054 to find the hours of operation at the clinic site nearest you.