Success Stories

Fueling Better Health: A Nutrition Risk Awareness Campaign

Submitted by Aimee Bowcott, RD, MPH, CDE and Sarah Ross, RD, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Nutrition and Food Services
When the Nutrition Risk Awareness Campaign launched, the goal was clear: raise awareness, build skills, and promote integration of malnutrition screening into everyday care across Winnipeg’s primary and community health settings.

Through a mix of presentations, student-led projects, and hands-on screening trials, the campaign lasted over a year. Health care providers—from registered dietitians and nurses to physicians and public health teams—were equipped with evidence-based tools, strategies, from the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force and provided real-life examples to help detect, treat, and prevent malnutrition.

The following Pilot projects brought these tools to life:

• At Nine Circles Community Health Centre, 40 clients who attended the clinic over three afternoons were screened, uncovering that nearly one in four were at risk for malnutrition—spanning ages 30 to 80. These clients were referred to the dietitian and the screening process has been embedded within the RN interval assessment, as well as, it is available as a macro or shortcut for MDs and other providers to use.
• In the Public Health TB Program, a small but impactful trial showed that even in non-traditional care settings, nutrition risk screening is possible—and valuable. Public Health Nurses incorporated the screening into their Direct Observed Therapy visits, identifying those at risk and connecting them with tailored nutrition resources.

These efforts were amplified through regional newsletters, professional association articles, and presentations to nurses, family physicians, and other health professionals. The message was simple but powerful: malnutrition screening saves health care dollars, improves client recovery, and belongs in every corner of our health system!

Our future vision is for sustainable community screening practices, stronger hospital-to-community communication, and a healthier future for Manitobans.