Dietician
Dietician
A Dietician (pronounced: /daɪ.əˈtɪʃ.ən/) is a healthcare professional who is an expert in dietetics; that is, human nutrition and the regulation of diet. A dietician alters their patient's nutrition based upon their medical condition and individual needs. Dieticians are regulated healthcare professionals licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat nutritional problems.
Etymology
The term "Dietician" comes from the Greek word "diaita," which means "way of life." This term was first used in the early 20th century to describe a new profession that focused on the role of diet in health and disease.
Related Terms
- Nutrition: The science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of an organism.
- Dietetics: The science and art of human nutritional care.
- Healthcare professional: A person who provides preventive, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to people, families or communities.
- Medical condition: A broad term that includes all diseases, illnesses, and disorders.
Role of a Dietician
A dietician can provide a range of services, including:
- Clinical Dietician: Works in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to provide nutrition therapy to patients with a variety of health conditions, and provide dietary consultations to patients and their families.
- Community Dietician: Works in public health agencies, health maintenance organizations, home health agencies, and health departments.
- Management Dietician: Works in food service settings such as hospitals, cafeterias, prisons, and schools. They may be responsible for buying food and for carrying out other business-related tasks.
- Consultant Dietician: Works under contract with healthcare facilities or in their own private practice. They perform nutrition screenings for their clients and offer advice on diet-related concerns such as weight loss and cholesterol reduction.
Education and Training
In most countries, competent performance as a dietician requires formal training at a higher educational institution. This includes a bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area. Dieticians must also complete a period of practical training in a hospital or community setting.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dietician
- Wikipedia's article - Dietician
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