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The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality and sustainability of dietetic practice in the scope of anthropometry for adolescents at Jeddah hospitals care setting.

An evaluation survey to define and critic dietetic practice concerning anthropometric assessment for adolescent group in Jeddah governmental and private operating hospitals with bed capacity of more than 150 beds and has at least four employed dietitians.

Only 10 percent of dietitians in Jeddah hospitals are members with the National Saudi Dietetic Association (SDA). Hospitals were mostly following international Standards of Practice (SOP) for anthropometry (60 percent), compared to national standards (10 percent). SOP is not unified or governed by the national organization body. Regularly (80 percent) of the practicing dietitians identify their individual scope of practice, the use of growth charts and reference data in assessing the growth status of their young clients. Similarly to other international countries, sustainability and resilience to all aspects of nutrition and dietetics practice should be ensured and maintained by SDA when guiding and standardizing all practices.

The study highlights the importance of standardizing the practice of anthropometric assessment among adolescent group. The study is also a call for the SDA to emphasize its role in governing and defining guidelines in all scopes of dietetics practice.

In our January issue, we made a brief reference to the campaign mounted by the Midland branch of the British Dietetic Association to promote better nutrition in their locality. Now we are able to give a more detailed report prepared by Mabel Blades, their public relations officer.

The first databank to combine the resources and expertise of the Royal College of Physicians, the British Dietetic Association and the British Nutrition Foundation, the Leatherhead Food Research Association was launched on 15 September 1987. The article describes it and its implications. It points out that public concern over additives has been unwarranted, but that a service needs to exist to keep consumers and manufacturers informed.

Over the last few years, sportsmen and women have begun to realise the potential role of nutrition in relation to improving performance. As sporting standards get higher and higher, competitors often experiment with new diets, protein supplements and megavitamin doses in an attempt to achieve the ‘competitive edge’. There is, however, no conclusive evidence that such practices do improve performance. The whole area of nutrition in sport is currently receiving much interest within the nutrition and dietetic profession. It was one of the major topics discussed at the recent annual conference of the British Dietetic Association and the Sports Nutrition Foundation has recently been established to provide a focal point for the professional development of all those involved in the field of sports nutrition.