Newcastle Herald

What does a Dietitian do?

What does a Dietitian do?
What does a Dietitian do?

Story sponsored by Community Therapy.

The link between diet and health is quite complicated. Food is essential for humans to live and survive, yet it can also be the underlying cause of health problems. Globally, the rising number of people diagnosed with preventable chronic or metabolic diseases is proof that striking the balance between what to eat and how much is not that easy.

The relationship of food and health may be too complex for most people to understand, especially now that there's a lot of information available online, some of it confusing and not backed by scientific evidence.

Thankfully, there's a group of people who have dedicated their time and energy to studying the science of applying food and nutrition to promote health and wellness. They are called Dietitians.

Getting to Know Dietitians

In many countries, including Australia, Dietitians are certified professionals who have undergone years of study and experience in the field of dietetics. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the term as "the scientific study of the food that people eat and its effect on health."

In order to be considered as a Dietitian and be allowed to practice the profession, you need to pass an exam to hold a license. You need to meet certain requirements to register with a board or secure accreditation and membership in a recognized professional association.

In the UK, you can only be considered as a registered Dietitian if your name is in the roster of Health Care Professionals; also, you must secure membership with the British Dietetic Association if you want to advance in your chosen career. Meanwhile, in Australia, you need to meet the requirement set by the Dietitians Association of Australia to become eligible and be recognized as an Accredited Practicing Dietitian.

Simply put, when it comes to food and its impact on people's health, Dietitians are the experts and they are qualified to work across different fields and settings which include clinics and hospitals, research institutions, food service companies and organizations, as well as the local community.

What does a Dietitian do?
What does a Dietitian do?

Different Ways Dietitians Help the Community

Sadly, despite being instrumental to the health of the community in general, the role of Dietitians is often overlooked. Most probably, the reason for this is the widespread unawareness of what Dietitians do in the bigger picture of healthcare.

Here are some of the areas where Dietitians shine in the communities they serve.

  • Through Clinical Practice

Although nutritionists and Dietitians may look the same, they actually perform different functions. While nutritionists also help educate people about healthy eating practices, only registered Dietitians can create and plan medical nutrition therapy used to treat chronic diseases in hospitals.

Dietitians can function in an inpatient or outpatient setting. People who have been diagnosed with nutrition deficiencies or preventable food-related diseases can seek the help of dietitians to assist in treating such conditions.

You may argue that it is extremely easy to just surf the net and look for general diets designed for people who suffer the same ailments as you. While this approach can be helpful in gaining awareness of what to eat and not to eat to improve your health, it must be noted that oftentimes patients don't suffer from only one problem.

Each patient has different problems to deal with simultaneously. These issues may include allergic reactions, financial capability, and even religious affiliations that affect the types of food which can be consumed. For example, if you are asthmatic, you may find that honey can help soothe your symptoms, but it won't be a good treatment if you're also diabetic.

A Dietitian usually customizes meal plans or nutrition therapy programs after studying a patient's health profile. Also, Dietitians create plans that can easily be followed and choose foods that are readily available in their community. If you are deficient of a certain nutrient, for instance, Dietitians in the Hunter Valley Region in Australia may provide you with a customised meal plan, as NDIS registered Dietitians are well equipped to serve people living with a disability and nutrient deficiencies.

  • Through Foodservice Management

Foodservice is a term that the majority of people may be unfamiliar with, but it's something that everyone has benefitted from. It's a fancy word for an industry involved in creating, selling, or even transporting prepared foods to consumers. Foodservice industry touches on schools, hospitals, restaurants, large organizations and other businesses. So, where does a dietitian fit into all this?

First off, in order to maintain profitability, food manufacturers usually listen to their customers and give in to new industry trends. In the past years, consumers have been clamouring for healthier food choices. Thus, companies offering foodservice products rely more and more on Dietitians to create nutritious meals and other food products.

The Dietitian's work may cater to special groups, the vulnerable population and the growing health-conscious segment of society. So, food technicians, dietitians, chefs and other food related professionals are now joining forces to ensure that companies and manufacturers are offering products and meal preparations that are not only financially viable and delicious, but also nutritious and healthy for consumers.

  • Through Research and Development

To become a registered Dietitian, you must hurdle several subjects related to science and math. Thus, it is not surprising for dietitians to help in their community's research and development efforts. The role that dietitians play can be particularly felt in research hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities and similar organizations.

Like their counterparts in foodservice, Dietitians who choose to work in research and development fields are usually part of multi-disciplinary teams supervised or led by a primary researcher, such as a physician in a pharmaceutical setting.

Some of the research areas in which a Dietitian may specialize include disease management, nutrition intervention for various diseases, clinical evaluation of relevant laboratory results, and even in spreading awareness of the relationships between diseases and nutrition.

What does a Dietitian do?
What does a Dietitian do?
  • Through Community Outreach and Education

Working as local community Dietitians, whether for government or non-government agencies, is no easy feat. The skills and knowledge base requirements, even for entry-level positions, can be quite high and stringent.

Aside from proficiencies in collection, assessment, evaluation, and interpretation of data on nutritional issues related to public health, community Dietitians are also compelled to have sufficient interpersonal skills because they are expected to collaborate with community stakeholders.

  • Through Public Health Service

Most people may not know this, but community dietitians play a crucial role in educating individuals, families, groups and communities on the principles of diet, nutrition, and food selection.

To have a significant impact on the community, public health Dietitians are often more inclined to look at food-related community problems based on a person's financial capacity, gender, race, or even religious beliefs rather than the usual elements of clinical practice. Public service requires the Dietitian to be more attuned to the available data to address the special needs of the community.

Some examples of public health programs that community Dietitians may implement or advocate include Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children in the United States, or Nutrition and Food Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Australia. These initiatives usually entail teaching the communities how to make more nutritious meals that will suit their lifestyles, financial means, and availability of resources.

Aside from educational programs for small groups or communities, registered community Dietitians can also participate in policy making, public health initiatives, or even pandemic response evaluation. Usually, dietitians involved in this aspect of community health development or intervention are part of multidisciplinary teams involving medical doctors, policy makers and other medical-related professionals.

  • Through Private Organizations

There are many local and international organizations aimed at ending hunger, using food to boost public health, or simply to educate more people about the importance of nutrition in health and preventing chronic illnesses. Community Dietitians who are involved in such organizations help through consulting and working out nutritional programs for specific populations.

Typically, such organizations are non-profit. They require Dietitians to wear multiple hats for different functions, including creating proposals for fund raising or participating in statistical studies related to health and nutrition.

It's not surprising to see non-government Dietitians working together with food service personnel or cafeteria employees to make sure that food offered in schools meet the standards of child nutrition. Dietitians also help in the preparation and planning of food packs for private-funded nutrition drives in Africa or relief assistance for victims of natural catastrophes like tsunamis or floods.

Conclusion

Dietitians are part of the bigger picture that is healthcare. If people truly are what they eat, then Dietitians are crucial to improving one's health condition and preventing diseases. Like all the other allied professionals in the field of medicine, Dietitians provide a big help in their communities. Without them, patients would be relying solely on chemical-based medications which, even if effective in some cases, are unnatural and may often cause unwanted side effects.

Story sponsored by Community Therapy.