How to Become a Dietitian or Nutritionist

How to Become a Dietitian or Nutritionist As Americans face a growing obesity crisis and ever-growing awareness about how what we eat affects our health, medical professionals in the field of dietetics are key members of that front line. Behind every public program like healthier school lunch initiatives or campaigns to fight Type 2 diabetes, dietitians and nutritionists are the ones using science to set healthy food guidelines and diet plans. The Day-to-DayDietitians and nutritionists work in a variety of settings, from healthcare settings (hospitals and clinics) to government (public health agencies) to the private sector (food manufacturing and distribution companies). They may work directly with patients to create and maintain diet plans to lose weight or improve health, but they might also work on larger-scale public health programs to encourage healthy eating to broader populations. You can also find dietitians working on nutrition guidelines and food safety in the government or in private companies. Their tasks often include:Designing diets that target specific conditions, like obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressureHelping patients maintain diets for health or weight loss, and ensuring that patients are dieting safelyDeveloping nutrition programs for an entire facilityImproving accuracy in food labels and advertisingWorking with agencies and manufacturers to improve food safetyResearching how food and nutrition interact with the body and various conditionsEducating the public (broadly or in specific targeted populations) on nutrition, food safety, and healthy lifestyle practicesDietitians and nutritionists typically work a standard full-time work week in an office or clinic setting.  For more on dietetics and what it’s like to be a dietitian or nutritionist, check out these videos:A Day in the Life: DietitianHow to Become a Registered Dietitian/NutritionistAsk a Nutritionist with Shira LenchewskiIs Being a Nutritionist Right for You?The RequirementsMost dietitians and nutritionists h ave a bachelor’s degree, and have completed a residency, internship, or other form of supervised training. Most states require a license for dietitians and nutritionists, so be sure to check your own state’s requirements if you’d like to start down this career path.The SkillsThe dietetics field calls for a number of special skills and knowledge bases, including:Attention to detailMath and science (particularly biology, food science, and biochemistry)Critical thinkingPatient evaluationAnatomy and physiologyDisease managementPublic health implementationThe PayPer the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for dietitians/nutritionists is $56,950, or $27.38 per hour. In addition, the field offers a lot of fulfillment for its members. According to a survey conducted by PayScale, the average dietitian is â€Å"extremely satisfied† in his or her career.The OutlookAs mentioned before, the renewed focus on food and nutrition, both on a national a nd personal health level, means that this is a gangbusters-level field for growth. Openings in dietetics are expected to grow at least 16% by 2014, which is significantly faster than average.Interested? APPLY HERE