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The first degree in Nutrition Sciences was formally opened this Monday, September 24, at the Cid dos Santos auditorium.

History will be made at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon by 30 protagonists, as they are the ones who will attend a pioneering course, not only at the Faculty, but also in public education in Lisbon.

Coordinated by Professor and Nutritionist Catarina Sousa Guerreiro and in partnership with the Faculties of Human Motricity and Pharmacy, both of the University of Lisbon, this new degree promises to change the role played by nutrition in basic health care.



To show the importance of this education, the opening was presided over by Faculty Director Fausto J. Pinto, who, speaking also as a Cardiologist, reinforced the need for good dietary and physical practices in order to maintain a good heart. He also shared with the students his positive vision that everything we do to change our lives should be seen "as a glass half full, more than a glass half empty."



The President of the Lisboa Norte Hospital Centre, Carlos Martins, emphasised that partnership between the Santa Maria and Pulido Valente Hospitals and the Faculty and its new students, saying that "we will have to prepare ourselves to support curricular and professional internships, to take on yet another challenge as a Hospital Centre; this Hospital is your home." A supporter of this project, he stated that he was engaged with the vision for this degree since the beginning, because, in his opinion "it is important to train professionals to strengthen the structure of the national health service, also in order to make further contributions to the Portuguese-speaking countries."



Nutrition is not the only subject that is taking up an increasingly prominent position; exercise physiology and the way it can influence people to have a better life was the subject that warranted the attention of the President of the Faculty of Human Motricity, Luís Bettencourt Sardinha, who stated that "there is still some lack of differentiated knowledge on sport." Representing one of the two partner faculties in Nutrition Sciences, he also praised the "great effort of the Faculty of Medicine to involve other faculties of the University of Lisbon, despite the fact that they are characteristically independent of each other".

Deputy Director of the Faculty of Pharmacy and standing in for its President, Maria da Graça Sobral Rodrigues addressed the issue of the great resources of each of the faculties of the University of Lisbon and stressed the wealth arising from synergies between institutions, "as it is easier to join forces for health as a common goal." By way of conclusion, she gave a valuable mission to the new students: "you are the students in whom we are investing to make our dreams come true."



In the three leading causes of death in Portugal (cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases and dementia-related diseases), there are also deficiencies related to nutrition. Catarina Sousa Guerreiro, coordinator and Professor of this new degree in Nutrition Sciences, showed that, despite this being a scenario worthy of concern, it is also a sign that there is hope and much work to be done. Its students can be good at sending out the message concerning these changes. "That's why your education is so important", she said, "nutrition is indeed a preventative factor for the major diseases that cause death." Based on genetic studies they will learn to evaluate, the Professor also said that personalised diets may be the key answer to many health problems.



Proud of the multidisciplinary team that has been working to create this degree and making a special mention to Joana Sousa, also a Professor and her "right hand woman" in this coordination task, Catarina Sousa Guerreiro showed that she was equally proud of the 30 students she has before her, since they were "only the best of the best who chose the FMUL and as a first choice, with a minimum entry mark of 14 out of 20." With brand new and fully equipped rooms, filled with state-of-the-art materials and equipment, with the latest generation of computers and adequate programming to draw up nutrition plans, the Faculty shows that it is ready to provide the best professional training, hitherto only available at the University of Porto.

That is the reason why there were 223 applicants, 193 of whom were excluded. For now, as the coordinator mentioned, the first 30 will stay, to ensure "a more personalised teaching based on close proximity."



As guest of honour, the President of the Association of Nutritionists, Alexandra Bento, presented some statistical data that reiterate the need to invest in nutritionists: "this profession has become very trendy for the Media." "It's important to have an educational establishment that strengthens this profession. This is a very bold project."

Based on a study that shows the need to have at least 500 nutritionists per 20,000 inhabitants, and considering that this figure is merely 100, the President explained the urgency of continuing to focus on the good training of professionals and on their regulation, "only 10% of those who complete the degree don't want to work as nutritionists, so it is by registering with the Association that graduates become nutritionists, not by completing their degrees."

But let's look at other interesting figures which show that, while 90% of nutritionists are women, the 10% male nutritionists are the ones who receive higher salaries at the end of the month, in round figures, an average of more than €700 a month, for the same duties. Considering the figures that were presented, the investment in academic training is advantageous, as the more a professional is specialised (post-graduation, Master's degree, doctoral degree), the higher is the likelihood of being successful and well-paid. It still takes, on average, six months for professionals to find their first job, and then there are several and increasingly comprehensive career paths; the predominant choice is the clinical area, followed by food companies (hospitals, health centres); public health areas (schools or municipalities) rank third and research is at the bottom of the list.

Alexandra Bento also showed her satisfaction with the developments in the national context, as "the government is now paying more attention to primary health care, because there is more food awareness."

Despite knowing that there is still a long way to go, the President made a point of ending her speech with a vision of hope for those who are now able to start making a difference: "if we want to add more years to our lives, we must add more life to our years."



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Joana Sousa

Editorial Team