Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the impact of visual disability on dietary habits and nutritional status

*This record is given in both English and Spanish The term visual disability encompasses all types of serious visual problems caused by congenital pathologies, chronic diseases related to aging, accidents of any type or infections. Given the significant impact of visual disability on quality of life, it seems necessary to have a better knowledge of the existing evidence regarding nutritional status, regularly consumed foods, and the dietary behaviour of people with this type of disability. The end goal is to prevent health problems caused by an inadequate diet in this section of the population. The Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has conducted an assessment of the published research on the impact of visual disability on food habits and nutritional status, and it has specifically examined the current evidence for the Spanish population. As yet, there is little scientific research on the links between visual disability, nutritional status and dietary behaviours. The studies have been conducted on highly varied sample sizes, although they are generally small and limited to specific geographical areas or very specific population groups, and therefore none have been representative of the population under study. Very different approaches have been used, mainly employing transversal quantitative designs, qualitative designs, and case-control studies. Additionally, no homogenous definition of visual disability has been used across the studies, therefore the results may not be applicable to the different degrees of visual disability. There is less scientific proof for the Spanish population than there is for populations in other nations, without any comparative study based on age or geographical areas. The reviewed scientific literature suggests that the regular diet reported by persons with visual disability do not conform to the parameters of healthy foods as stated in current food guides, thus entailing a greater risk of obesity and/or malnutrition than in the population without visual disability. With regard to dietary habits, people with visual disability have significant difficulties in performing the activities required to follow a suitable diet. In an attempt to mitigate this problem, non-governmental organisations that aid persons with severe visual disability or vision loss such as the Spanish National Organisation for the Blind (ONCE), have developed support programmes that cover all aspects related to diet: rehabilitation programmes to provide training in culinary techniques, adapting household appliances and kitchen utensils, teaching activities, and promoting the formation of member groups in order to share solutions. The Scientific Committee of the AESAN proposes the following activities: To promote studies that conduct a detailed exploration of the nutritional status of persons with slight and severe visual disability, and loss of vision, by means of nutritional surveys specially tailored to this collective, and the assessment of the diagnostic criteria of malnutrition. To support scientific research on identifying the obstacles to leading healthy lifestyles that are faced by people with visual disability in Spain, with the goal of implementing public health policies that promote the best possible state of health in this section of the population. To promote the development of digital tools that provide information on the nutritional content of foods, intended for use by people with visual disability. To support measures for rehabilitation, training, innovation and other actions introduced by non-governmental associations, such as the ONCE, which have been shown to improve the ability of persons with visual disability to consume a healthy diet.ES; PDF; pfefsa@aesan.gob.e