ABOUT LOD
Established under Law No. 284 in April 2022, the Lebanese Order of Dietitians (LOD) is the sole regulatory body for the dietetics profession in Lebanon. Its mission is to uphold professional standards, promote evidence-based practice, and lead national efforts to advance nutrition science and dietetic care.As of 2026, LOD has 1,174 registered dietitians, up from 871 in 2025 and 178 in 2022, reflecting the rapid formalization and growth of the regulated dietetics workforce in Lebanon.
NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DIETARY GUIDELINES: A MENA-REGION FIRST
Lebanon officially launched its Sustainable Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (SFBDGs) at the Ministry of Public Health in 2026 – the first guidelines of their kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. LOD led the scientific development of the guidelines, grounded in research from the American University of Beirut. The guidelines are built on four pillars: public health and wellbeing, economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and cultural acceptability.
LOD developed the guidelines in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aligning Lebanon’s approach with global best practice and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The SFBDGs now serve as a national roadmap for policymakers, institutions, and consumers, positioning Lebanon as an early regional reference point for sustainability-integrated dietary guidance.
STRENGTHENING SCIENTIFIC & CLINICAL PRACTICE
LOD continues to strengthen dietitians’ scientific and clinical capacity through continuing education. Building on a 2024 needs assessment of 261 licensed dietitians, LOD established a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) framework granting pre-approved credits to qualifying providers. Over the past year, LOD reviewed, approved, and granted Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) to 25 educational activities using standardized criteria. LOD also expanded its scientific and professional programming through several activities:
❖ First Annual Scientific Meeting – “From Undernutrition to Obesity and Diabetes Management,” accompanied by a hands-on Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) skills-based workshop for practicing dietitians.
❖ Obesity & Weight Management Meeting – Semaglutide 2.4mg and nutrition care for patients on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist therapy.
❖ National Dialogue on Obesity – LOD represented the profession in a multidisciplinary forum with the Lebanese Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Lipids.
❖ Beyond the Clinic – a university workshop on ethical, professional, and technological perspectives in dietetics practice.
LOD POSITION STATEMENT: 2025-2030 U.S. DIETARY GUIDELINES
LOD issued a position statement on the newly released 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, affirming their emphasis on whole and minimally processed foods, dietary diversity, and limiting added sugars, sodium, saturated fats, and ultra-processed foods -consistent with positions held by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society. The statement also identified critical gaps: limited integration of environmental sustainability despite established diet-climate links; inconsistencies between the recommendations and their visual communication (e.g., saturated fat guidance versus imagery favoring full-fat dairy and red meat, and underrepresentation of fiber-rich foods like legumes and whole grains); and the need for guidance that reflects age, health status, culture, and socioeconomic context rather than a one-size-fits-all model. LOD reaffirmed its call for locally adapted dietary guidelines and personalized nutrition counseling by licensed dietitians.
MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION POLICY
LOD contributed to the Ministry of Public Health and UNFPA launch of the national Dietary Guide for Women in the Perinatal Period, a practical, evidence-based tool for healthcare professionals covering preconception, pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum nutrition.
LOD’s leadership also represented the Order at the national launch of the World Breastfeeding Week Campaign and the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Capacity Building Program, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO, and World Bank.
ADVANCING REGULATORY STANDARDS
In 2026, the LOD’s internal bylaws received formal approval from Lebanon’s Shura Council and the Ministry of Public Health, and the latter approved LOD’s conditions for establishing nutrition clinics and private practice – completing regulatory milestones first initiated last year.LOD continues to follow up on the implementation of a unified practical training program across hospitals nationwide and worked with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to correct the scope of practice for non-dietitian graduates, revoking their eligibility to provide nutrition advice and reinforcing patient safety and professional standards in the field.
Source: https://iuns.org/2026/08/empowering-nut ... ietitians/
