HUMAN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

A nutritionist is an expert in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage diseases. They are specialists who advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or manage diseases like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Cancers, Renal diseases, genetic disorders. Nutrition as a science and an art is evidenced to play a vital role in human growth and development, productivity and well-being and has become a mandatory aspect for management of communicable diseases which is on the rise.

Key arrears in nutrition

• Community nutrition
• Clinical Nutrition
• Sports Nutrition

Sectors for jobs and attachments

• Academic institutions
• Research institutions
• Consultancy firms-self or established
• Hospitals
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Food industries
• World Health Organization
• Food and Agriculture Organization
• Government parastatals
• Personal therapeutic food firm

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A NUTRITIONIST

Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives.

Duties

Dietitians and nutritionists typically do the following:

• Assess clients’ nutritional and health needs
• Counsel clients on nutrition issues and healthy eating habits
• Develop meal and nutrition plans, taking clients’ preferences and budgets into account
• Evaluate and monitor the effects of nutrition plans and practices and make changes as needed
• Promote healthy lifestyles by speaking to groups about diet, nutrition, and the relationship between good eating habits and preventing or managing specific diseases
• Create educational materials about healthy food choices and lifestyle
• Keep up with or contribute to the latest food and nutritional science research
• Document clients’ progress
• Participate in research and development of new nutrition therapies and supplements.

Dietitians and nutritionists evaluate their clients’ health through nutrition assessments and diagnostic laboratory testing. Based on their findings, dietitians and nutritionists advise clients on behavior modifications and intervention plans, including which foods to eat—and which to avoid—to improve their health.

Dietitians and nutritionists help prevent or support treatment of health conditions such as Malnutrition, cardiovascular diseases, diabestes, genetic disorders, HIV/AIDS, Renal, Allergic reactions, heart diseases among others. Many dietitians and nutritionists provide personalized information for individuals. For example, a dietitian or nutritionist might teach a client with diabetes how to plan meals to improve and balance the person’s blood sugar. Other dietitians and nutritionists work with groups of people who have similar needs. For example, a dietitian or nutritionist might plan a diet with healthy fat and limited sugar to help clients who are at risk for heart disease. Dietitians and nutritionists may work as part of a team with other healthcare staff to coordinate client care.

Dietitians and nutritionists who are self-employed as consultants may meet with clients or work as consultants for various organizations.

Other nutritionists and dietitians work in areas of research and policy formulation.