Past Food Vitals Webinars

Approximately 1 in 3 Australians are at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), accounting for around 17% of hospitalisations and 11% of all deaths. Because 90% of kidney function can be lost before symptoms manifest, only 10% of people with CKD are aware they have this condition. This means that over 1.5 million Australians are unaware they likely have CKD, yet it is still under-recognised and may go undiagnosed.

Prevention, early detection and treatment are especially important for kidney disease because chronic kidney damage is often permanent. The two most common and significant risk factors of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for up to two-thirds of cases.

General Practitioners (GPs) are positioned at the forefront to educate their patients that CKD results from several pathophysiological processes. Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are often a result of energy dense, nutrient poor, highly processed Western diets. GPs often lack the understanding and confidence to offer advice about diet and chronic disease. A diet centred around eating whole plant foods has been shown to be protective of the development of CKD and can directly address the root cause of most CKD cases.

This webinar informs GPs how an eating pattern focussed on unprocessed plant foods can reduce the risks of developing CKD. This can then be used to recommend diet and lifestyle modifications to patients to prevent the comorbidities leading to CKD.

By the end of this activity, attendees will be able to:

• Describe two pathophysiological processes leading to the development of chronic kidney disease.
• Identify at least three features of an eating pattern that can be beneficial for preventing and managing chronic kidney disease.
• Name tools and techniques to support patients suffering from chronic kidney disease to transition to a whole food plant-based diet.