Researchers visited two doctor’s offices in Berlin and asked 248 patients about their eating habits, weight changes, and stomach problems. They found that many people had digestive issues like bloating and dry mouth, and some weren’t eating enough. Interestingly, patients taking many medications were more likely to have dry mouth. The study shows that doctors should regularly check if their patients are eating well and getting proper nutrition, especially older adults. This is the first time this type of nutrition screening was done in regular doctor’s offices in Germany.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many patients visiting regular doctor’s offices have nutrition problems, digestive issues, and aren’t eating enough food
  • Who participated: 248 adults visiting two doctor’s offices in Berlin, Germany. About 43% were 60 years or older, and 68% were women. Most had conditions related to metabolism, heart disease, or other health issues
  • Key finding: 42% of patients reported digestive symptoms like bloating and dry mouth. About 13% had lost weight without trying, and 21% weren’t eating much at their last meal. Patients taking more than 5 medications daily were much more likely to have dry mouth
  • What it means for you: If you visit your doctor regularly, there’s a good chance you or people around you might have nutrition or digestion problems that aren’t being checked. Doctors should ask patients about eating and digestion as part of regular checkups, especially older adults and those taking many medications

The Research Details

Researchers worked with two doctor’s offices in Berlin from November to December 2022. When patients came in for regular appointments, they filled out a detailed questionnaire about their weight, eating habits, digestion, and how much they could move around. The doctors also filled out forms about each patient’s health conditions and any nutrition help they were getting. The researchers then checked back with these patients six months later to see how they were doing.

This was a pilot study, which means it was a small test to see if this type of screening could work in regular doctor’s offices. The study included four general doctors and one specialist in metabolism and hormones. The researchers used a system called nutritionDay, which is used worldwide to check for nutrition problems in hospitals and healthcare settings.

Most nutrition screening happens in hospitals, not in regular doctor’s offices where most people get their healthcare. This study is important because it shows that regular doctor’s offices can use simple questionnaires to find patients with nutrition problems early, before they become serious. Finding these problems early might help prevent hospital visits and keep people healthier

This was a small pilot study with only 248 patients in two doctor’s offices, so the results may not apply to everyone everywhere. The study was well-designed with structured questionnaires and follow-up after six months, which is good. However, because it was only done in Berlin, Germany, results might be different in other countries or areas. The study did not have a comparison group, so we can’t say whether screening actually improved patient outcomes

What the Results Show

When researchers looked at the patients’ weight, they found that 53% were at a healthy weight, 43% were overweight, and only 5% were underweight. However, 13% of patients reported losing weight without trying in the past three months, and this was more common in older adults.

Digestion problems were very common—42% of patients reported at least one digestive symptom. The most frequent problems were bloating (21% of patients) and dry mouth (16% of patients). Dry mouth was strongly connected to taking many medications: patients taking more than 5 pills per day were much more likely to have dry mouth.

When it came to eating, 6% of patients said they had eaten very little (half or less of their normal amount) in the past week, and 21% ate very little at their most recent main meal. Importantly, patients who had digestive symptoms were more likely to have lost weight without trying—19% of people with digestive problems reported unintentional weight loss.

During the six-month follow-up, most patients stayed healthy: 93% did not need to go to the hospital, and patients visited their doctor an average of 3.4 times.

The study found that doctors changed how they were feeding patients over time. At the start of the study, most patients were eating regular food. By six months later, more patients were prescribed special diets and fortified foods (foods with added nutrients). During the follow-up period, two patients needed special nutrition support: one started taking nutritional drinks and another needed a feeding tube. This suggests that some patients’ nutrition problems got worse over time.

This is the first study of its kind in regular German doctor’s offices, so there isn’t much to compare it to directly. However, similar studies in hospitals have found that nutrition problems are common and often missed. This study suggests that the same problem exists in regular doctor’s offices, where most people get their healthcare. The high rate of digestive symptoms (42%) is similar to what researchers have found in other healthcare settings

This study was small and only included patients from two doctor’s offices in one city in Germany, so the results might not apply to other places. The study didn’t have a comparison group of patients who didn’t get screened, so we can’t prove that screening actually helped patients get better. The researchers only followed patients for six months, which is a short time. Also, the study had more women (68%) than men, so results might be different for men. Finally, this was a pilot study meant to test if the screening could work, not to prove that it definitely helps patients

The Bottom Line

If you visit a doctor regularly, especially if you’re over 60 or take many medications, ask your doctor to check your nutrition and eating habits. Tell your doctor if you’ve lost weight without trying, have trouble eating, or have digestive problems like bloating or dry mouth. If you take more than 5 medications daily, be aware that dry mouth is a common side effect and talk to your doctor about it. Doctors should include simple nutrition screening questions in regular checkups. Confidence level: Moderate—this is a small pilot study, but it suggests screening is feasible and could help catch problems early

This matters most for older adults (60+), people taking multiple medications, and anyone who has noticed unintentional weight loss or digestive problems. It also matters for doctors and healthcare providers who want to catch nutrition problems early. If you’re young and healthy with no digestive issues, this may be less urgent for you, but it’s still good to be aware of nutrition

Changes won’t happen overnight. If you start eating better or addressing digestive issues, you might feel better within a few weeks. Weight changes typically take several weeks to months to notice. The important thing is that catching nutrition problems early can prevent bigger health issues down the road

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your weight weekly and note any unintentional weight loss. Also track digestive symptoms (bloating, dry mouth, difficulty eating) and how much you ate at each meal compared to your normal amount. Rate your symptoms on a scale of 1-10
  • Set a reminder to eat three meals per day and track whether you finished each meal. If you have dry mouth, set reminders to drink water throughout the day. If you take multiple medications, create a list in the app and discuss with your doctor how they might affect your eating and digestion
  • Check in monthly with your weight, digestion symptoms, and how much you’re eating. If you notice unintentional weight loss, increased bloating, or worsening dry mouth, flag these for your doctor at your next appointment. Share this data with your healthcare provider to help them identify nutrition problems early

This study describes nutrition problems found in a small group of patients in Germany and should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition. If you have concerns about your weight, digestion, or nutrition, please talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian. This research is informational only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet or medication routine.