Restrictive diets: What are the consequences? How should they be approached?

This lecture by Dr. Jean-Baptiste Bonnet, a senior resident at Montpellier University Hospital in Prof. Ariane Sultan’s Nutrition and Diabetes Department, is being held as part of the University’s Disability Action Plan and European Disability Employment Week. 

Food is, perhaps, the physiological need with the strongest sociological significance. Every civilization, every religion, and every people has reflected on the act of eating, established norms for it, and woven it into their spirituality and rituals. It is therefore not surprising that when a person faces a personal challenge (an academic exam, a poorly managed chronic illness, a sports competition…), they try to use this mechanism as a means to achieve their goal of performance or pain relief. This is when diets—more or less restrictive, more or less deficient in nutrients, and, above all, more or less based on science—come into play. In the case of certain medical conditions and disabilities, resorting to this type of diet is also not uncommon. It is up to the professional supporting these individuals to understand the principles, pitfalls, and potential benefits of such diets, while never losing sight of the value framework that underlies them almost constantly.

Admission is free, but registration is required by Wednesday, November 20, 2024.