Dietetics
If you’re interested in people, food, and nutrition, then dietetics is the career for you! There are excellent career opportunities for dietitians both in New Zealand and around the world.
Dietitians use current scientific evidence to plan and implement practical and effective ways of managing food and nutrition – both for individuals and for groups of people. People with chronic or acute diseases benefit from the involvement of a dietitian in their care.
The Dietetic Training Programme at Otago University is the only programme in New Zealand that trains Dietitians. Students complete a BSc or BCApSc in Human Nutrition, then a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics. The Dietetics course involves studying Clinical Nutrition, Community and Public Health Dietetics, Foodservice Management, Service Management, and Applied Dietetics while gaining valuable practical experience with working Dietitians, and complete a student research project.
What’s the difference
between a Dietitian and a nutritionist?
Dietitians can also be nutritionists – but nutritionists need further postgraduate training to become dietitians.
Dietitians are uniquely qualified to manage the nutritional care of people with special dietary needs and to promote health. They must be registered to practise dietetics in New Zealand. Dietitians work in clinical situations such as hospitals, private practice, Public Health organisations, and community settings.
Dietitians influence nutrition in their roles as Food Service Managers, Government and non-Governmental Organisation advisors, Food Industry Managers, educators, and researchers.