What is so special about majoring in nutrition?

            The thought, "nutritionists only write meal plans for people," is an idea that the majority of people think about when I tell them that I am majoring in Nutrition/Dietetics.  There is more than what meets the eye because people do not know the other aspects. There may be misconceptions about what dietitians and nutritionist do. Not only do they help people plan meals, but they also conduct research and perform experiments. 

Where and how can one obtain a nutrition degree?

The University of New Mexico will jump start your goal towards earning a degree in nutrition and dietetics. This degree offers students the opportunity to pursue a higher degree which allows them to apply for a 10 month internship that will permit them to become a registered dietitian  In addition to the internship, students have to pass the Commission on Dietetic exam. In order to be accepted into the program at UNM, students must earn at least a B or higher in Chemistry 121, Chemistry 123L, and Nutrition 244. They must also have a 3.0 GPA or higher. If students follow the course outline and pass with a "C" or higher in their other courses, they will obtain their degree in four years. The admission process is rigorous but it is achievable. I am currently working on my degree at UNM and I am enjoying it.

            

Did you know that there are many sub-categories in the the field of nutrition?

Different types of dietitians work in various places: hospitals, health clinics, universities, fitness and wellness centers, and pharmaceutical industries. This degree at UNM allows students to become either a nutritionist or a registered dietitian. What is the difference you may ask. According to the eatright.org website,

 The "RD" credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Some RDs may call themselves "nutritionists," but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The definition and requirements for the term "nutritionist" vary. Some states have laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation "nutritionist," but in other states, virtually anyone can call him- or herself a "nutritionist" regardless of education or training. Individuals with the RD credential have fulfilled specific requirements, including having earned at least a bachelor's degree (about half of RDs hold advanced degrees), completed a supervised practice program and passed a registration examination — in addition to maintaining continuing education requirements for re-certification. ("What is a RD?")

In the state of New Mexico, nutritionists must be licensed in order to be considered a health professional. Dietitians are more common than nutritionists because of the different opportunities. I had the privilege of interviewing a lecturer at UNM named Jean Cerami, who is also a registered dietitian  She says "[To] be a nutritionist in our state, we need to be licensed and get an advanced degree in the master's program. [Nutritionists have fewer certifications than dietitians.] Dietitians can work at hospitals while nutritionists cannot" (Cerami). Only dietitians are allowed to work at hospitals because they have had hands-on experience with patients. The internship will be dealing with clinical care, food service management, and community nutrition programs. Jean Cerami is the head coordinator for the dietetic internship. She decides if the interns have the ability to become registered dietitians.

Examples of How Dietitians can Help Others by Planning Meals

            Nutrition is an important profession because it benefits people in many ways. I chose to major in nutrition and dietetics because I want to help others achieve a healthy lifestyle. Dietitians or RD's assist their patients in planning a meal plan specifically for them because they may have allergies, eating disorders, or are ill. They can even help the aging population, such as the Baby Boomer generation. People with allergies need to take extra precautions when eating, therefore going to see a dietitian will benefit them by avoiding certain foods that could cause allergic reactions. Females today in our society are becoming unhealthy due to the media portraying women with alarmingly slim figures. This can be a bad influence on younger females because it will cause them to starve themselves, thus developing eating disorders. These eating disorders are called anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is an eating disorder where people will refuse to eat because they think it will cause them to become fat. Bulimia is another type of eating disorder that causes the person purge their food consistently which causes unhealthy weight loss. Dietitians can help these people by creating a meal plan that is extremely healthy. For instance, they may suggest the patient to eat more protein that will help gain back the muscles that have wasted away due to malnutrition. As for illnesses, dietitians can assist patients with diabetes plan meals that will help them maintain a healthy blood sugar range. The Baby Boomer generation makes up the majority of the elderly. They will need meals that will aid them in keeping their body strong and healthy.

What Research Dietitians do

Research dietitians conduct human trials that will help them get a better understanding of how to treat and prevent diseases through nutrition. Dietitians in this sub-category can work in private industries. They can help with product developments for companies. They can also be an account manager in the food and pharmaceuticals industries. According to Jean Cerami "[There are] a lot of community based research, like school meals and childhood obesity" (Cerami). She also stated that dietitians write literature pieces using the scientific method. Dietitians also write peer-review journals, which are articles that involve experimental data performed by professionals; these professionals will have their peers review them to validate their results (Cerami). They must write formally with no grammatical errors because other professionals and students will read the articles. Cerami states that "[Dietitians publish their peer-review journals] in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it used to be the American Dietetics Association" (Cerami). They mainly write peer-review journals because this field does not deal with fictional information like stories in other professions. 

How Dietitians Speak to their Patients verses how they Speak to other Dietitians

Dietitians rather than nutritionists create meal plans and conduct research. When dietitians help patients create a meal plan, they speak in jargon that is easy to understand. Dietitians consider the background of the patient before consulting with them. For example, dietitians who work in hospitals with patients will peruse their patient's medical charts to decipher their condition (Cerami). They will then explain their condition briefly and guide them through directions on treating their condition through eating properly. Dietitians will use abbreviations for medical charts because they are aware that their peers also use abbreviations to write down side notes. As for research dietitians, they use scientific terms that only their peers or scientists can understand.

The Importance of the Field of Nutrition

            Our nation is at a health crisis currently because of an obesity epidemic. Without dietitians  lowering the rates of obesity in children and adults would be difficult because people will continue to eat unhealthily. Dietitians provide advice that can impact someone's whole life and change a nation's eating habits. Attending UNM and becoming either a nutritionist or a dietitian will help you feel a sense of gratification.