Chun
What does nutritionist do and what does they need to learn?
I am thinking about being a nutritionist in the future. I wander what is their job and what do I need to learn to become a nutritionist? #career-counseling #dietitian #nutritionist #clinical-nutrition
3 answers
Marcela Jimenez Ramirez, CLC
Marcela’s Answer
Becoming a nutritionist would allow you to attain a promising future in all the areas of your life. It is a profession that you develop every single day of your life, not just in the place you choose to work but in your home, with your relatives and friends, so get ready for never stop helping people around you.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2015-2020), the percentages of obesity have increased in a preoccupying way, almost twice than the registered percentages in the 70's. This situation has become a serious public health problem, especially in children and teenagers, because there is broad literature supporting the association between obesity and diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, respiratory and digestive complaints; thus it is mandatory that actions take place to get solutions and diminish these statistics.
There are three main fields you can work in to contribute to this objective:
Clinical nutrition: In this field, you will be able to assess the body measurements as well as biochemical parameters and food preferences and life habits of patients in order to determine a diagnosis and treatment. Also, you can be an active participant of a health care professional group to improve patients health.
Community nutrition: In this field, you can work in developing, supervising and evaluating educational programs directed to the community. Furthermore, you will have the chance to impact neighborhoods, towns, cities and why not even whole countries in a positive way by encouraging people to strive to get healthier eating patterns, be physically more active and avoiding harmful life habits.
Administrative nutrition: In this field, you will be able to develop your managing skills and handle all the processes that take place in a food service (budgets, supply, merchandise, production, distribution, quality assurance, food safety, marketing, customer service, human resources, financial management).
I hope this information may be helpful for you.
If so, I encourage you to look for universities where you can find the subjects and educational programs in this field.
Best regards,
Marcela M.
Monique Marshall, MS, RDN, CDN
Monique’s Answer
Hi Chun,
This website may be helpful: http://www.eatrightpro.org/resources/about-us/what-is-an-rdn-and-dtr/what-is-a-registered-dietitian-nutritionist
As a community dietitian, I provide nutrition education to low-income families throughout New York City. My passion is helping others learn how to eat healthy and lead a positive life through wellness. Throughout my internship, I also acted as a dietitian where I provided assessments and recommendations for nutrition care including meal planning, diet recommendations, lab monitoring, education, and counseling. It is a very versatile career with lots of room for fun. If you have any questions, feel free to message me.
JoAnn Kadien
JoAnn’s Answer
Try exploring this site: http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/nutritionist/
Nutritionist Basics
Nutritionists are experts in food and nutrition. They can help patients choose the right things to eat, help them plan menus, and advise them on the health effects of certain foods. Nutritionists assess a patient’s current dietary habits and needs, educate them on healthy eating habits, follow up to ensure the menus are working, and write reports that document a patient’s progress.
They might also speak to groups, such as schools or businesses, about good nutrition and preventing health problems through proper foods. Nutritionists frequently work closely with individuals who have medical issues, such as those with diabetes or those undergoing chemotherapy, to help them find the right foods to eat for their best possible health.