Nutritionist Career

He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician. ~ Chinese Proverb

So often we hear about the importance of eating right and paying attention to the nutritional aspect of the food we consume on a daily basis. Nutrition is a crucial aspect of our overall health and hence cannot be neglected at any cost. Nutrition is about eating the right quantity of quality food at the right time. The fact that people have been neglecting their own dietary and nutritional requirements has led to the emergence of a group of professionals in the field of nutrition. If you are fascinated by the subject of nutrition and wish to pursue a career in this field, here is all the information that will help you.

Who are dietitians/ nutritionists ?

Dietitians are essentially people who study the science of food with regards to its breakdown in terms of nutritional elements and determine the optimum dietary recommendations for people according to their unique individual requirements.

Are nutritionists and dietitians one and the same?

No. Although it is a common misunderstanding that a nutritionist and a dietitian are one and the same, there is a major difference between being a nutritionist and being a dietitian.

What is the difference ?

A dietitian is essentially a person who has educational qualification in the field of nutrition and dietetics and has been accredited by the national / international dietetics association. The dietitians are not only authorized to advise people on nutrition-related matters, but have undergone clinical training which authorizes them to modify diets in order to treat disease conditions like diabetes, gastro-intestinal diseases, food allergies or even heart diseases. On the other hand a nutritionist is a non-accredited title that loosely encompasses nutrition scientists and self-professed nutrition advisers.

How can one prepare for a career in nutrition from an early stage?

If you are willing to pursue a career in nutrition or dietetics, you can start preparing for it at an early stage. Since a strong base of science is an advantage while entering any profession in the field of science, it is recommended that students who wish to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics should take courses in subjects like biology, chemistry, health, communications and even mathematics.

What educational qualification would I require to become a dietitian or a nutritionist?

To become a certified dietitian students are required to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area. A two years master’s course in dietetics is also one of the pre-requisites to become an accredited dietitian. Nutritionist courses are also available which are slightly different from the dietitian courses.

In order to get the educational qualification, do I need to register myself with an association or organization to start working as a professional dietitian?

Some of the countries require dietitian to register or get an accreditation from a certified organization in order to practice in the field of dietetics; the requirements vary from country to country and even state to state. Most of the countries have their own dietetics associations, which recognize qualified dietitians and accredits them with a legal licensure or certification. For example out of the 46 States in USA 31 require licensure, 14 require certification, and 1 requires registration.

What difference does it make if I do/do not receive the accreditation from a dietetic association?

The accreditation conferring associations generally provide dietitians with a certification or licensure, which means that the dietitian is protected by law and is allowed to practice. It increases the credibility of the practitioner and hence the faith of the people who seek consultation. In some countries, a nutritionist cannot become a registered dietitian unless he is registered or gets an accreditation or approval from the concerned dietetic organization.

What are the essential roles of a dietitian?

Dietitians help the patient’s recovery by suggesting dietary recommendations to complement the medical treatments. They develop special meal plans considering the requirements of every individual patient. They can recommend dietary changes for a poor diet. They spot the changes and trends in the field of nutrition and propose analysis about the same. They also help people in managing weight issues be it weight gain or weight reduction. They study and research the developments in the health and medical fields as well.

Read about Nutritional Counseling