Eating healthy is becoming an increasingly important
concern among many people today. People want to become better informed
about nutrition and are interested in changing their eating habits
for a better quality of life. They are focusing on nutrition to
attain good health.
Nutrition is the science of food and its effect on human and animal
life, health and disease. It involves the study of the basic nutrients
required to sustain life, their bioavailability in foods and overall
diet, and the effect upon them of cooking and storage. It is also
concerned with dietary deficiency diseases.
Dieticians/ Nutritionists are the professionals recognised as experts
on food and nutrition. They are an authority on diet and the application
of the principles of nutrition. They plan nutrition programmes and
supervise the preparation and serving of meals. They are often responsible
for promoting sound eating habits through education and research.
They are concerned with food and health in its widest sense and
their work is preventive and therapeutic.
Dieticians must know about food production and processing; social,
economic, and psychological factors that influence food choice;
the digestion, absorption and metabolism of food, its effect on
nutritional well-being; how to treat disease and prevent nutrition-related
problems.
Dieticians and nutritionists tend to follow normal working hours
but those working in healthcare facilities or hospitality centres
may work various shifts.
The skill set
Strong interest and aptitude in subjects such as physiology, microbiology,
biochemistry, health education, catering and economics would be
ideal for all those who aspire to become dieticians. They must be
interested in people, enjoy communicating with people from all walks
of life, possess confidence, patience, strong communicating skills(written
and oral), humour and patience , a non-judgemental approach and
an appreciation of different cultural, regional, social and economic
factors that determine individual dietary needs and preferences.
Compassion, caring, responsibility and personableness are important
traits for the profession. For a dietician, an ability to communicate
complex things in layman's language is vital and a positive and
motivating attitude is a must. Teaching and counselling skills are
needed to teach and explain nutrition to others.
Training Programmes
A Home Science course right after Plus Two or equivalent is a direct
training route. Sometimes, there is the provision of Home Science
as a subject during plus two. Admission into the 3 or 4 year Home
Science course is open to those with Plus Two (Science/ Home Science).
3-year B Sc (Bachelor of Home Science) course could offer Food,
Nutrition and Dietetics as a specialisation. Food Science and Nutrition
focuses on advanced biochemistry, food microbiology, nutrition,
clinical nutrition, food product development, food processing and
technology, maternal and child nutrition, food adulteration and
quality control, etc. About 70 universities in the country conduct
Home Science/Domestic Science/Home Economics courses. Agricultural
universities also offer home science programmes.
The 2-year Master's degree programme in Home Science also offers
Food & Nutrition as a specialisation. Pursue a PhD for teaching,
consultancy and research opportunities. Postgraduate diploma courses
in Nutrition & Dietetics are offered to science (Microbiology/Biochemistry/allied)
graduates and home science graduates. Hotel and catering technology
degree may also lead to a postgraduate diploma in dietetics. Medical
graduates may pursue post graduation programmes in nutrition science.
Postgraduate diploma in dietetics and nutrition would teach you
physiology, basic nutrition, applied nutrition, foods and dietetics,
clinical nutrition, food service management in hospital and other
institutions. Practical training would include clinical testing
and food analysis, therapeutic dietetics, hospital internship, field
work, seminars and project.
Food Science & Technology/Nutrition can be offered in a B.Sc. course
or as a Bachelor's degree in Applied Science as in Delhi University.
Food Technology course of 4 year duration after Plus Two in Science
is an option for those who are keen on going in-depth into the technical,
research aspects of food, food processing and technology.
The ultimate making of a nutritionist/dietician is the culmination
of education, training, personal skills, interests and updating
of knowledge. Continuing education in the form of seminars and symposiums
on nutrition and food are helpful.
Prominent Institutions
- G B Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar-263145
- Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar,
Hyderabad-500030
- Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003
- University of Lucknow, Badshah Bagh, Lucknow-226007
- Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology,
Kanpur-208002
- Institute of Home Economics, New Delhi-110049
- Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi, Bangalore-560056
- Banasthali Vidyapith,P O Banasthali Vidyapith -304022
- M S University of Baroda, Fatehganj, Vadodara-390002
- University of Mumbai, Fort, Mumbai-400032
- Nagpur University, R. N. Tagore Marg, Nagpur-440001
- SNDT Women's University,1 Nathibai Thackersey Road, Mumbai-400020
- Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute,Porur,Chennai-600116
- Panjab University, Sector 14, Chandigarh-160014
- University of Madras, Chennai-600005
- Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati-517502
- National Institute of Nutrition, Jamia-Osmania P O, Hyderabad-500007
[Indicative list, not exhaustive]
Prospects
Dieticians and nutritionists work in different settings such as
hospitals, nursing home ,schools, old age homes, catering services
in railways, airlines, hotels, etc. They may work with local authorities
in helping to develop and implement food policies or work as faculty
in centres of higher learning. They could be involved in research
or join industry (food processing), catering organisations, and
other industrial set-ups. As consultants dieticians and nutritionists
may work in quality control, or freelance for sports nutrition,
media and fashion/beauty industry. Some may eventually specialize
in the management of overweight patients, care of the critically
ill, diabetic patients, or patients with renal failure. Dieticians
may work in health and fitness clubs, gyms, private weight loss
companies, health spas and convalescent centres. They may be attached
to sports teams, individual athletes, sports medicine clinics in
a consulting role. Experienced dieticians may move up the hierarchy
in the dietetics department of a health facility or with any other
employer or become self employed. Private consulting is usually
lucrative. However, establishing oneself as a nutritional or diet
consultant would take time and credible work experience, good networking
and consistent quality service.
Increased emphasis on the prevention and treatment of disease by
improved food habits and planned nutrition points towards prospects
for more openings in years to come.
