Preeti Gupta has done Post Graduation in food and nutrition from IHE (institute of home economics) Delhi University, in the year of 2004. Ms. Preeti completed her internship in st. Stephens Hospital. She also gained experience with Dr. Shikha Sharma for 2 years and she has more than 18 years of experience in the field of nutritionist and dietician.
In recent years, the field of nutrition and dietetics has become extremely popular, particularly in India. Due to the, increasing cases of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, people are getting more curious about the importance of proper nutrition and healthy eating habits. Just to be safe from these diseases, living a healthy life is working like a trend. This has resulted in a surge of demand for the services of nutritionists and dietitians.
So, now the question arises, what is the role of nutritionists and dietitians? The role of nutritionists and dietitians has become crucial in promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing nutrition-related diseases or lifestyle disorders. All the nutritionists and dietitianswork with individuals, communities, and organizations to develop and implement a structured nutrition and wellness programs. Thanks to them, every individual can be provided with customised dietary advice based on their specific health and nutritional needs, and patients can work with other healthcare professionals to develop treatment plans.
Talking about the future of nutritionists and dietitians in India, there is a growing number of job opportunities in the field of nutrition and dietetics, both in the public and private sector.In the private sector, works in the health clinics, wellness centres, and food and nutrition-related industries are booming. Whereas, in the public sector, nutritionists and dietitians can work in government hospitals, health departments, and research institutes.
Not just that, there is also a growing demand for freelance nutritionists and dietitians, who would be able to provide their services to clients from the comfort of their own homes.
Steps to promote healthy eating habits and prevent nutrition-related diseases, are not only taken locally but also nationally by the government of India.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched several initiatives aimed to improve the nutritional status of the population, including some initiatives like the National Health Mission, the Integrated Child Development Services, and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. In addition to betterment in the health of the population, these initiatives have also created new job opportunities for nutritionists and dietitians, who can now, work to implement and evaluate these programs.
Although, the fields have a bright future in India, there is one of the few challenges that is being faced by them, it is the lack of standardized education and training.
To address this issue of lack of standardized education and training, the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) has taken steps to promote standardization in the field. The IDA is a professional organization for nutritionists and dietitians in India. It has developed a set of standards and guidelines for the education and training of practitioners. Currently,the IDA is also working to establish a national regulatory body for the profession, which would be responsible for setting and enforcing standards for education, training, and practice.
Another challenge that is being faced by the field of nutrition and dietetics in India is the limited availability of resources and infrastructure. India has a lot of rural areas andmany parts of the country still lack basic healthcare facilities. With that, access to qualified nutritionists and dietitians is also limited in these areas. This situation has made it difficult for the people in these regions to receive the nutrition and dietary advice they need to maintain a good health.
To resolve this issue, thegovernment India has launched several initiatives that are aimed to increase the availability of healthcare resources and infrastructure. Some of the healthcare schemesinclude the National Health Mission, the National Rural Health Mission and there are more on the list. These initiatives have led to the establishment of new health clinics and hospitals, and have increased the number of healthcare workers, including nutritionists and dietitians, in rural areas.
In conclusion, the future of nutritionists and dietitians in India appears to be as bright as it can be. With the growing awareness about the importance of proper nutrition and the increasing number of job opportunities in the field, it is an exciting period for those who are interested in pursuing a career in these fields. However, we cannot deny that their certain challenges that exists for this field.It is important for the professionals and the government to addresschallenges like lack of standardized education and training, and limited availability of resources and infrastructure, in order to ensure that there is a proper growth not only in this field but, also in the overall health of the people.
Government is working on developing more schemes to educate people about the importance of living a healthy life. Looking at all the strategies the Indian government is coming up with, the field of nutrition and dietetics becoming one of the most important in India, doesn’t look far.
