Get all the details on life as a dietitian from Sandhya Prakash.
Nutrition and dietetics is a growing field and opportunities in this field are endless. The trends today show an increasing interest in health and fitness as diet plays a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of people.
A good and balanced diet improves the quality of life to a great extent. And this is where a nutritionist or dietician comes to play an important role.
Overview
The study of nutrition involves an understanding of the various components of food and its role in the body. It also involves learning the process by which food is digested and absorbed by the body.
Nutrition and dietetics finds application in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Agriculture and Public Health. In general, dietetics deals with the management of food where as nutrition is concerned with the promotion of health.
Study route and eligibility
Students can pursue graduate/post-graduate degrees in Home Science, Dietetics and Nutrition, Food Science Technology to step into this field. Candidates seeking admission in the Bachelor courses should have passed Class 10+2 in the Science stream. Few universities offer undergraduate courses in Home Science, for which Science at the 10+2 level is not necessary.
The two-year, post-graduate course requires a graduate degree in Food Science, Home Science, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Medicine. Besides, one can also avail the one-year, Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition (DDPHN).
It has a compulsory three-month internship, working in a hospital under a qualified dietician. After completing the post graduation programme, one can also go in for research in food and nutrition.
The National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad is a premier institute under Indian Council of Medical Research, that offers regular nutrition training courses every year. Those who take up a Doctorate Degree in the area can aim at a better career in research or academics. Specialised fields of nutrition and dietetics include:
*Sensory Science
*Community Dietetics
*Consultant Dietetics
*Clinical Dietitcs
*Public Health Nutrition
*Food Toxicology
*Management Dietetics
*Nutritional Physiology
*Molecular Nutrition
*Nutrition in Health and Disease
To practise as a registered dietitian or a nutritionist, one needs to have a license. This credential is offered to professionals authorised by the Indian Dietetics Association (IDA). This registration or certificate is necessary to find work at hospitals, day-care clinics and consultancy clinics. Those who possess these credentials must also have specific academic and practice requirements. For more information, visit the website — www.idaindia.com
Career prospects
Dieticians could find employment in hospitals, health and recreation clubs, canteens, nursing care facilities, colleges and universities, catering departments of star hotels, research labs of food manufacturers, in-health departments of government bodies, etc. They can also work as consultants or set up a private practice. Moreover, they could find openings in mass media where top priority is given to disseminating vital information on healthy living.
The main fields in which a dietician or nutritionist can work are food service, institutional catering, health care, research and development and social welfare. Food service includes catering service, restaurants, where professionals will help with menu planning, monitoring the quality, preparation etc. Institutional catering involves planning, supervision and preparing nutritious and well-balanced meals for schools, colleges, factories or office cafeterias etc.
Their work may also include the estimation and purchase of food supplies and equipment; receiving, checking and taking inventories of provisions, etc. Those who are involved in such work are called administrative or management dietitians.
Nutrition and dietetics professionals also work in social welfare, mainly with public health departments run by the government.
Courses and colleges
*Lady Irwin College, Delhi University
*Institute of Home Economics, New Delhi
*Women’s Christian College, Chennai
*SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai
*G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
*Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University
*Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai
*Banasthali University, Jaipur
*University of Agricultural Sciences, (Karnataka)
*University of Mysore, Karnataka
*Mangalore University, (Karnataka)
*National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
*All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata
*The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad