Career in nutrition

Ranjan K Baruah *

Nutrition is the vital process by which organisms utilize food to sustain life. It provides essential nutrients, which are metabolized to produce energy and support growth. Working as a dietitian is a fulfilling and dynamic profession that combines food, health, and nutrition expertise. If you're passionate about helping others and promoting healthy living, this may be the ideal career for you.

A dietitian is a trained specialist who provides personalized guidance on food, health, and nutrition. Their expertise helps individuals: develop healthy eating habits, manage chronic diseases, achieve optimal nutrition, improve overall well-being, etc .

There are courses like
Nutrition and Dietetics, Clinical Nutrition ,Public Health Nutrition ,
Pediatric Nutrition , Cardiac Nutrition , Nutritional Nephrology ,
Sport and Fitness Nutrition , Counselling and Family Therapy ,
Ayurvedic Food and Nutrition , Nutritional Psychiatry ,
Obesity and Weight Management , Clinical Diabetology,
Nutritional Dermatology , Physiotherapy and Nutrition ,
Natural Health Nutrition , etc .

For the BSc courses one should be from science stream but there are specialized courses where students apart from science stream may also enroll.

There are professional courses like Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Sports Nutritionist, Certified Nutrition Counsellor, Certified Gym Trainer, Certified Yogic and Naturopathic Nutrition, Certified Diabetes Educator, Functional Nutrition, Thyroid Nutrition, Precision Nutrition.

Most of the leading universities offer courses like B Sc and M Sc in Nutrition and Dietetics. Apart from government institutes there are private universities or specialized institutes that offer beginner level and advanced level courses for those who want to get involved in this field. After the specialized course one may become dietician, health coach, health educator , nutrition content writer , naturopath , food technologists .

National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was founded by Sir Robert McCarrison in the year 1918 as ‘Beri-Beri’ Enquiry Unit in a single room laboratory at the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Within a short span of seven years, this unit blossomed into a "Deficiency Disease Enquiry" and later in 1928, emerged as full-fledged "Nutrition Research Laboratories" (NRL) with Dr. McCarrison as its first Director.

It was shifted to Hyderabad in 1958. At the time of its golden jubilee in 1969, it was renamed as NIN. It offers courses like M.Sc. (Applied Nutrition) & (Sports Nutrition); PG Certificate Course in Nutrition (PGCCN) and it also offers PhD courses.

Nutrition courses unlock a world of career opportunities in the vibrant field of nutrition and dietetics. As the importance of nutrition in overall health and well-being gains recognition, the demand for skilled professionals in this field continues to rise.

Upon completing nutrition courses, individuals can explore diverse career paths, including:

- Clinical Dietitian: Work in hospitals, clinics, or private practice, creating personalized nutrition plans and counselling clients.
- Public Health Nutritionist: Develop and implement community-based nutrition programs and policies.
- Sports Dietitian: Work with athletes and sports teams to optimize performance through tailored nutrition strategies.
- Food Industry Professional: Apply nutrition expertise in food product development, marketing, and education.
- Researcher: Contribute to the advancement of nutrition science through research and academia.
- Health Educator: Teach people about healthy eating habits and nutrition principles.

There are many more opportunities for those who have academic qualification and employability skills. Last but not least with a degree in nutrition, the possibilities are endless!

Scholarships Update:

L'Oréal India invites applications for the L'Oréal India for Young Women in Science Scholarships 2024-25 from young women who have passed Class 12 and wish to pursue higher education in science. The scholarships will be awarded to promising young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Selected scholars will receive financial aid to cover college fees for UG, PG, and PhD in any scientific field, including Pure Sciences, Life Sciences, Applied Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Cosmetology, Cosmetic Science, Pharmacology, and more, at a recognized college or university in India and the last date for applying is 31st January, 2025.