The food we eat is an essential part of survival besides water. The amount and quality of food that people consume is an important factor that determines how they look and feel from the inside. A Nutrition career is an opportunity to educate and move people toward a healthy living and various ways that will help them in the management of health issues.
The field of Nutrition offers various aspects of the food journey making it exciting as well as rewarding.
Who is a Nutritionist?
Nutrition is a science that studies the metabolic and physiological responses of the body to diet and food along with determining the nutrient’s role in identifying the cause, treatment and prevention of diseases.
Nutritionists are health care professionals that counsel people on the selection of healthy food and its preparation along with good eating habits.
They are the experts in food and nutrition and help people manage their diet plans, prevent diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Responsibilities
- Thorough understanding of nutritional value of various food items.
- For patients suffering from medical conditions, perform their nutritional assessments.
- Educating and proper advising of patients who have diet-related disorders.
- Promoting healthy living by raising awareness among public on the importance of diet and nutrition.
- Assessment of diet and lifestyle of patients along with information on health histories.
- Suggest appropriate laboratory tests for determining the nutrients status of clients.
- Advising diets that are traditional and healing.
Education Requirements
- Complete class 12th examination in science stream from a recognized board.
- Complete the undergraduate courses in B.Sc in Nutrition, food Science and Home Science.
- In post-graduate level, the study options are M.Sc in Food and Nutrition with specializations like public health nutrition, food science and therapeutic nutrition.
- A post-graduate diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition can also be considered.
Top Colleges in India that offer Nutrition courses
- AIIMS Delhi.
- CMC Vellore.
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
- Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak.
- Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.
- D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai.
- J Medical College, Ahmedabad.
- Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow.
- Neigrimhs, Shillong.
Required Skills
The following are the skills needed to be an effective nutritionist.
- Good communication and research skills.
- Should make informed decisions in clinical settings.
- Expertise in various allergies and restrictions in diet.
- Motivate the patients to make positive health changes by simplifying health related concepts.
- Affects of nutrition absorption factors on physical and mental health.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Maintaining professional integrity.
- Work effectively in culturally diverse environments.
Different Types of Nutritionist specialties
- Registered Dietician (RD).
- Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR).
- Licensed Nutritionist.
- Clinical Nutritionist.
- Sports Nutritionist.
- Food Service Nutritionist.
- Public Health Nutritionist.
- Consultant Nutritionist.
- Pediatric Nutritionist.
Employment Areas for Nutritionists
- Hospitals (Government and Private)
- Multinational Corporations (MNCs)
- Research and Advocacy
- Schools
- Private Clinics
- Community Health Programs
- Home Health Care Agencies
- Wellness Centers
- Fitness Clubs (Gyms and Aerobic centers)
- Health Product Companies (Pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and FMCGs)
- Diabetic Clinics
- Wellness Startups
- Government agencies working for social welfare and development, public health departments
- International food organizations such as United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, US AID, and other non-profit organizations.
Top recruiting companies for Nutritionists
The top companies in the hospitality industry that employ nutritionists are:
- Accor Hospitality
- Hyatt Corporation
- Vatika Group
- Le Meridian
- Taj Group of Hotels
- Apollo group of Hospitals
- AIIMS and other private nursing homes.
Popular Career Options in Nutrition
- Nutritional Aide
- Food Service Associate
- Nutrition Assistant
- Caterer
- Chef
- Health Coach
- Health Educator
- Nutrition Writer
- Nutritionist
- Food Technologist
- Dietician
- Naturopath
Salary and Career Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLU), the median salary of nutritionists was $63,090. In India, the starting salary for a Nutritionist is Rs 1, 38,000 per annum.
Highly skilled and experienced nutritionists and researchers are paid more by most companies and organizations.
According to BLU, the projected job growth for these healthcare professionals is 8% between 2019 and 2029. This growth is projected due to global concern about rising obesity rates and various illnesses such as diabetes and heart diseases. The latest trends in healthy eating involving locally grown, organic and non-genetically modified food have opened up a plethora of opportunities for nutritionists.
Health and Nutrition are trending on social media and online publications. Interested Nutritionists if interested in sharing their expertise online can land you as a health writer or virtual consultant.
– Samiya Firdous
