The study of the relationship between nutrition and health is called dietetics.
Dietetics is the study of the relationship between nutrition and health. Nutritionists specialize in applying their knowledge to topics ranging from prescribed diets for people with specific medical conditions to recommendations intended to improve the health of entire communities through dietary changes. This branch of the medical field has many applications, including clinical care, research, and community outreach.
A nutritionist can help athletes determine their special nutritional needs.
People who practice dietetics generally have a bachelor’s degree, at a minimum, and complete many licensing requirements to become a registered dietitian. In many nations, the term “registered nutritionist” is protected by law and only people who meet certain requirements can use it. A nutritionist may also use the term “nutritionist,” although it is possible for someone to be a nutritionist without a background in dietetics.
A nutritionist can prescribe enteral nutrition for patients with bulimia.
What people eat can have a profound impact on their overall health. Nutritionists study nutritional needs at all stages of life and in a variety of settings so they can understand the unique nutritional needs of specific patients, as well as nutritional trends in specific communities. A 90-year-old woman has very different dietary needs than a 25-year-old male athlete, and a nutritionist can determine what those needs are and what might be the best source of nutrition.
Research nutritionists may work in laboratories.
Some nutritionists work in hospitals and other clinical settings, working with specific patients. They can prescribe meal plans to help manage and prevent disease, and they can also prescribe enteral nutrition for patients who are unable to eat normally. In clinical settings, nutritionists work with physicians and other members of the medical team to ensure that their patients receive the best and most appropriate treatment.
A nutritionist can prescribe enteral nutrition for patients who are unable to eat normally.
Dietetics is also used in residential facilities such as universities and nursing homes to ensure residents receive the nutrition they need, and in facilities such as schools and cafeterias to provide a healthy, balanced diet that promotes health among clients. Nutritionists are also an important part of nutrition-related outreach programs, using their skills to explain how people can eat healthier diets and stay healthy. Research nutritionists work in laboratories and similar settings to investigate nutrition, health, and emerging issues related to the field.
A career in dietetics can be very interesting. Candidates interested in working in this field should be interested in science, medicine, and food, and it helps to have good interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills.