- Consulting dieticians are regarded as experts in the areas of food, its nutritional impacts and how it correlates with one's health. They address an array of topics and aim to better the nutritional knowledge and intake for people around the world. According to the American Dietetic Association, there are seven priority areas: aging, child nutrition, food and food safety, health literacy and nutrition advancement, Medical Nutrition Therapy, nutrition research and monitoring and weight management for health (see Resources).
- Many people consult dieticians for a variety of reasons. Some may seek their services because of unhealthy eating habits and weight issues, while others look for their supervision to come up with meal plans that may help them take better care of a preexisting medical condition or even prevent an illness. Dieticians will advise their clients on the risks and benefits of different foods and how eliminating or adding them into their everyday diets can be beneficial. Dieticians may also be consulted to help plan and oversee nutritional courses for families, schools, companies, hospitals and other institutions.
- Many dietitians declare an area of specialization within their field. For example there are clinical dieticians, managerial dieticians, and community dieticians. Consulting dieticians usually have their own private practice or work contractually with different health care related establishments to suggest guidance regarding diet associated affairs like weight management. They perform different assessments for clients to identify the areas that can be improved with proper food and possible supplement intake.
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http://www.nal.usda.gov/Due to the increased public interest in the nutritional arena and the documented positive results of consulting dieticians, there are more and more job opportunities that have become available. Consulting dieticians are now working with food manufacturers, marketing and distribution companies to assist with their campaigns and subsequent appeal to the public. They may be asked to pen literature about the benefits of products or report on their nutritional effect. - In the past, nutritional advice and information was given by people like general practitioners or even community leaders. Nowadays consulting dieticians are likely required to have at least a Bachelor's degree in the field, as well as meet the proper licensure and certification requirements that pertain to their place of practice. Different states and institutions may require specific statutory certification in order for dieticians to declare and register themselves within the field. The American Dietetic Association (through the Commission on Dietetic Registration) awards a "Registered Dietitian" credential to individuals that have successfully completed the necessary coursework, internship and exam. The awarded status must be maintained; in order to do so dieticians must complete a minimum of 75 credit hours that are approved (they are referred to as Continuing Education credits) every five years.
- According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, dietitians and nutritionists held about 57,000 jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs were in hospitals, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, or offices of physicians and other health practitioners State and local government agencies provided additional jobs---mostly in correctional facilities, health departments, and other public-health-related areas (see Resources).
