Scope of Nutrition

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Nutrition and Dietetics is the science and art of feeding individuals based on the demand for food to satisfy the requirement of nutrients for survival, maintenance, growth, and reproduction.  It can also be defined as the “science and art of human nutritional care.” Diet therapy and its application in patient-related settings is a major focus of Therapeutic Nutrition and dietetics. Thus, the field of nutrition and dietetics can be related to:

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(a) Nutrition care and intervention focused on the individual.

(b) Nutrition care and intervention focused on the group.

 

Diet plays a major role in the promotion of health and well being of an individual. A good and balanced diet improves the quality of life while poor diet may lead to morbidity and diseases. Nutritionists and dietetics are concerned with this aspect. While dietetics is related to food management, nutrition is related to the promotion of health or in other words, we can say nutrition is the only reason behind health or illness. Due to changes in the food habits of most of the urban population, the role of nutritionists and dieticians is becoming more important. They suggest corrective food habits considering various aspects of an individual such as age, work routine, and sickness, etc. and thereby improving their quality of life. They also educate their clients about the preparation of food according to the principles of nutrition. They know about food production and processing, psychological factors influencing food choice, digestion, and its effects on nutritional aspects. A growing and aging population will increase the demand for meals and nutritional counseling in nursing homes, schools, prisons, community health programs, and home health care agencies.

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Role of Nutritionist or a Dietitian in Health Care  

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The role of Nutritionist or a dietitian has come a long way since the early 1900s. Their role is still unknown to a lot of people. The nutrition experts are the link between the patient and the medical team and physician in assisting difficult decisions making about nutrition care. Asian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASEAN) states that the food and nutrition experts’ role in patient care has been recommended as a necessity that allows adequate source and amount of balanced nutrients according to pre-established standards of care. A dilemma occurs when the disease state of the patient confounds the adequacy of nutritional support, which has resulted in the patient’s malnourishment.

 

The Dietician/Nutritionist or A Food Expert should be:

1. Planning food and nutrition programs

2. Supervising meal preparations in schools and hospitals

3. Recommending dietary modifications

4. Educating patients on diets that may help their condition

5. Working with other healthcare professionals to provide a multidisciplinary healthcare approach

6. Informing on the severity of illness and complications of treatments, inclusive of the benefits and burdens of feeding in all conceivable routes.

7. Active in the patient's care as the dietitian reporting on the nutritional status of the patient, as well as, the advisor to the physician and medicinal team.

8. Informing the legal decisions that may help determine the route of care for the patient, such as more aggressive or palliative care.  

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Various Specialized Areas in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics

     

CLINICAL DIETICIAN AND NUTRITIONISTS are specialists in food nutrition services in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private practices. They assess patient nutrition, develop dietary plans, provide patient counseling, and monitor patient's progress.

     

COMMUNITY DIETICIANS AND NUTRITIONISTS work in public health agencies, health and fitness clubs, and daycare centers. They counsel people on food choices and direct programs in nutrition awareness and disease prevention. 
    

MANAGEMENT AND FOOD ANALYSTS specialize in foodservice systems or clinical management. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, school foodservice, cafeterias, and restaurants. They manage personnel, plan and conduct employee training programs, design food systems, and plan budgets.

     

CONSULTANT DIETICIANS AND NUTRITIONISTS are independent business people who work as nursing home consultants, book authors, and patient counselors in medical centers and fitness programs. They also develop and evaluate foodservice systems and serve as independent advisors to industry.

Career Opportunities

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GOVERNMENT SECTOR: They can work with government hospitals, the government’s health department, schools, colleges, factories, and office cafeterias for planning nutritional regiment.

     

SPORTS AND FITNESS INDUSTRY: They can also work for sports hostels and athletes camps. Health and recreation clubs, canteen, and nursing care facilities also require the services of nutritionists and dietitians. Employment opportunities are also open to them in the catering department of star hotels and restaurants.

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RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SECTOR: Research and development involve conducting research on various food items to ensure their quality as well as studying the effects of various types of diet on body chemistry in labs. The research dietician or nutritionists do research on the nutritive value of food which helps to understand the various components of the food we eat and the right type of food which provides a balanced mix of the essentials like vitamins, minerals, etc. needed for the human body. They also can opt for a research career mainly in universities, public or private sector research institutes, food product manufacturing companies, and hospitals. Teaching the science of nutrition of dietetics in colleges and universities is also a good option.

  

MASS MEDIA: Moreover they could find openings in the mass media where top priority is given to disseminating vital information on healthy living. Informative talk shows on health nutrition with related experts. Celebrity diet plans for looks, glow, and physical fitness purpose.

     

PRIVATE SECTOR: Gyms, Slimming Centers, Private Consultant/ Practitioner: Experienced Nutritionists or dietitians may become assistant, associate, or director of a specific health department with deals in patient’s food intake, or become self-employed. Besides all this, they can also work as private consultants or private practitioners. As per their specialization, Some Nutrition practitioners can work for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, pediatrics, gynecological or neurological health, and nutrition consultants.

     

FRUITS AS SALARY: Dietetics and Nutrition is a remunerative job. Those who are working in government hospitals, academic institutions, research institutes, and other agencies have salaries as fixed by the government depending upon work profile and experience. Some private-sector hotels, restaurants, food manufactures offer higher salaries and attractive perks. Independent practitioners and private consultants also have good earning which largely depends upon the number and nature of their clients.

     

INITIAL PAYOUTS:  Salary varies from 10,000 to 25,000 rupees /month as per the abilities and experience. 

     

HIGHEST INCOME: Salary varies from rupees 10,000 to 90,000 per month depending on qualifications, the position held, experience, and location. The job prospects are good and are expected to grow in line with the average job.