Nutritionists and dietitians work in diverse settings. They both work in almost similar settings though dietitians will often be found in healthcare settings. Dietitians will also more likely be preferred for hiring in most settings because of their credentials, qualifications and experience. The main employment settings for nutritionists and dietitians include:
Healthcare facilities including clinics, hospitals etc-Mainly the dietitians will be found in healthcare settings. They work together as a team with other health professionals i.e. physicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical officers, medical officers etc. They participate in ward rounds and discuss with other health care team concerning the progress of patients with nutritional concerns. They develop nutrition therapy plans. They discuss nutritional issues with patients and their families. These dietitians identify patients with nutrition concerns by screening them first, then conducting nutrition assessment before implementing strategies to manage nutrition concerns .They also assist patients to determine their nutritional needs, they screen them and provide nutritional diagnosis , offer nutrition counselling and examine clinical therapeutic effects.
With outpatients, dietitians may be involved in the following:
- Performing nutrition screening and assessment for clients
- Counselling patients with diet-related issues on how to manage the conditions they may have i.e., how to manage blood sugar levels or cholesterol, how to achieve weight loss or gain.
Community – They are a part of the public health team. These nutritionists and dietitians work under contracts for organizations. They assess the nutrition requirements of individuals and groups. These dietitians and nutritionists participate in the planning and execution of nutrition programs in communities. They advocate for community health and teach individuals and communities on healthy eating as well as the significance of nutrition. They also promote nutrition and food security in the community. For example, you may also find them posted in hardship areas where members of communities may be undernourished. In such cases they may be involved in the screening of those with high nutritional risk, then in conducting nutrition assessments and identifying whether those at risk are mildly , moderately or severely malnourished. Then they later enrol them into nutrition programs for treatment.
Food industry, food companies, hotels– These dietitians and nutritionists are found in food industries and food companies where they ensure proper nutrition labelling practises. They see to it that the regulatory roles of nutritional claims and product labelling are proper and align with the objectives of nutritional research, which aims to enhance nutritional evidence in endorsing new product claims. They also ensure the safety and hygiene of foods being manufactured and that the company’s products caters to those with food allergies and intolerances.
In hotels, they co-operate with kitchen staff to ensure food safety during storage, preparation and serving. They also work jointly with chefs and staff to create menus that cater to customers’ nutritional requirements by taking into account customer’s preferences and dietary restrictions. They ensure that those special dietary needs are accommodated by providing them with appropriate alternatives.
Research centres -These dietitians and nutritionists work coordinatively with other researchers to plan and implement nutrition developments. They can be found in research centres, organizations and universities. Nutrition researchers are proficient in scrutinizing the complex interaction between foods consumed and the role they play in the health of individuals or population groups. A research nutritionist participates in all phases of a research project including planning , implementation, monitoring and evaluation etc . They can identify a gap or a nutrition issue that requires more attention i.e., why iron deficiency anaemia is common in……. , devise a research question and conduct a study on the issue. Through research, there have been further developments in the nutrition field.
Businesses -Business nutritionists and dietitians can be found in diverse contexts including marketing and sales departments in food companies where they collaborate with marketing teams to generate efficient strategies and campaigns., participate in food manufacturing and ensure food safety and hygiene, attend radio or television interviews where they inform and educate on nutrition matters etc.
Consultancies -These dietitians are more experienced and skilled. They have most likely worked for years- more than 15 years in the nutrition field i.e. in healthcare facilities , communities before they become consultants. They can either be self-employed or work under contract in healthcare settings, wellness initiatives, sports centres, institutions etc.
Education centres-These dietitians are found in learning institutions especially higher learning institutions e.g. in universities where they teach nutrition courses. These dietitians usually have advanced education whereby they have attained a Master’s degree or a doctorate degree in the nutrition field. They may teach students in the degree level or those in postgraduate level.