Dietetics

Dietetics is the health science concerned with the study of human nutrition and its practical application to maintain health, prevent disease, and treat conditions through diet and dietary interventions. Dietetics emphasizes translating nutrition science into individualized care, public health programs, and efficient food systems.

The practice revolves around the Nutrition Care Process, including assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring and evaluation of a patient’s or client’s dietary needs. Medical nutrition therapy uses therapeutic diets and counseling to manage acute and chronic diseases, while food service management designs and oversees meals in health care, school, and community settings.

Education and credentialing vary by country but generally require an accredited degree in dietetics or nutrition, supervised practice, and professional registration or certification. In the United States, completion of an ACEND-accredited program, supervised practice, and passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam grants the credential Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). In other regions, professionals may be titled dietitians or nutritionists and be registered or licensed with national or regional bodies, such as the British Dietetic Association and the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom, or Dietitians Australia.

Dietetics spans clinical, community, and organizational practice. Clinical dietetics focuses on disease management and nutrition therapy in hospitals and clinics; community nutrition addresses prevention and education in populations; and food service management ensures safe, nourishing meals in institutions. Specialties include sports dietetics, pediatric and gerontological nutrition, renal and oncology nutrition, and weight management.

Historically, dietetics developed in the early 20th century as a professional field to apply nutrition science to patient care and community health. Today, dietetics relies on evidence-based guidelines, ethical practice, and cultural competence to support health outcomes.