??????????????Division of Human Nutrition
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The Division Human Nutrition was established in 1991 as a department and is now a Division and part of the Department of Global Health. The Division has evolved over many years and now offers an undergraduate professional degree and postgraduate programmes including a doctoral programme in nutritional sciences.
What is a Diet?itian?
A dietitian is a qualified health professional holding a minimum four-year scientific degree, specializing in various aspects of nutrition and nutrition therapy. To practice, dietitians must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
What does a dietitian do??
Dietitians specialize in several fields of nutrition:
- Dietetics Private Practice: Provide consultations for patients with specific nutrition-related conditions, requiring dietary interventions and lifestyle changes to improve health.
- Clinical/Therapeutic Nutrition: Work within hospitals as part of medical teams, managing patient care through personalised nutrition interventions, including special diets and feeding therapies.
- Community and Public Health Nutrition: Employed in public health sectors, including government agencies and NGOs, focusing on community nutrition education, prevention of deficiencies, growth monitoring, breastfeeding support, and nutrition management for various health conditions.
- Food Service Management: Oversee nutritionally balanced meal provision in institutions like healthcare facilities and correctional services, managing menus, costing, and food service systems.
- Consulting/Industry: Apply nutrition expertise in food, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries, involved in food labelling, regulatory compliance, product development, and nutritional marketing.
- Nutritional Research/Science: Conduct nutrition-related research on health and disease roles, typically employed by academic institutions or research bodies.
Why is nutrition important?
Nutrition forms a cornerstone of good health, vital for overall wellness. Inadequate nutrition can lead to poor health and increase disease risks.
Nutrition therapy
Nutrition therapy is crucial in managing various conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, eating disorders, and more.
Nutrition adv?ice
Nutritional guidance is essential throughout life stages, including sports nutrition, pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and elderly care.
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