Nutritionist Career Research Paper

• Education: The degree programs my include nutrition education, consumer sciences, food delivery systems, and medical nutrition therapy. Most classes this profession requires you to learn about are the functions of your body and how what you put in it affects it. Only about 35% of nutritionists have a master’s degree. As a high school student it is recommended to take classes in psychology, chemistry, and biology. Depending on your state, you may have to get a license to practice. In current state law for Texas, nutritionist profession is not regulated. Therefore, you do not have to obtain a license in order to practice.

• Experience: Typically no experience is needed in this occupation, but there are several hours of supervised training before

graduation. Also, internships are offered following college graduation. Another helpful aspect would be if you maintained a healthy lifestyle yourself.
• Where and what type of facility: The various places a nutritionist can work is at hospitals, for the government, nursing and residential care facilities, offices of health practitioners, outpatient care centers, and if self-employed they work with individual clients.

• Job Outlook: This profession is expected to grow twenty one percent by the year 2022. This is the fastest average for any other occupation, making this a good field to join. In recent studies, the Centers for Disease Control have found that more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity can result in various fatal diseases. Therefore, more people have been interested in living a healthier lifestyle and learning how to prevent these diseases.

• Advancement opportunities: After getting experience, you can advance to assistant director, associate director, director of a dietetic department, or you can become self-employed. Another option is to become a sales representative for equipment, pharmaceutical, or food manufacturers.

• Salary/wages: Nutritionist made around $50,000 in 2012. The lowest ten percent earned less than $34,000, and the top ten percent earned more than $77,000. The amount in which they make varies on what they are doing in their job and what state they are working

in.
• Description: On a daily basis a nutritionists will assess patients’ and clients’ health needs and diet, inform patients on their eating habits, develop meal plans, evaluate the effects of meal plans and change the plans as needed, promote better nutrition by speaking to groups about the importance of healthy eating, and write reports to document patient progress. Your duties will vary on the position you are in and the town in which you live.
• Advantages/disadvantages (student): An advantage to being a nutritionist is if you are self-employed you can choose your own hours. This would be very beneficial when you start having children. A disadvantage is if you have to work with a patient that wouldn’t take your advice and didn’t have the motivation to maintain their health.