2. DEFINITION OF DIETITIAN
Dietitians are the health professionals, ideally
trained to implement and change dietary
habits of an individual or population.
3. Or
A dietitian is a person with legally
recognized qualification in nutrition and or
dietetics who applies the science of nutrition
to the feeding and education of groups of
people and individuals in health and disease.
5. DIETITIAN (GENERAL)
One who plans and supervises the
preparation of therapeutic or other diets for
individuals or groups in hospitals, institutions,
other establishment and for workers in
particular sectors, gives instructions and
proper preparation of food according to
dietetic principles, performs duties related to
nutrition programmes and may be
responsible for food purchasing on behalf of
an organization or establishment.
6. PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONSIT
One who appraises various factors
related to nutrition and food problems in
the community, plans and executes
nutrition elements of health
programmes: participates in
programmes of nutrition activities for
particular groups or the community.
7. OTHER DIETITIANS
Not elsewhere classified eg., those
acting as consultants to food
processing and distributing firms or
manufactures of food processing
equipment.
9. The dietetic practitioner avoids
discrimination agents other individuals
on the basis of race, creed, religion,
sex, age and national origin.
Dietetic practitioner fulfills professional
commitments in good faith.
The dietetic practitioner maintains
confidentiality of information.
10. The dietetic practitioner practices dietetics
based on scientific principles and current
information.
The dietetic practitioner does not advertise in
false or misleading manner.
The dietetic practitioner present
substantiated information and interprets
controversial information without personal
bias, recognizing that legitimate differences
of opinion exist.
11. The dietetic practitioner complies with all
applicable laws and regulations concerning
the profession.
There is a need for full time dietitians in the
hospitals. The major responsibilities of the
Dietitians are:
12. Assessment of patient needs and
establishment of requirements.
Diet planning.
Diet counselling.
Provision of nutrition education.
14. The Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) was
founded with C. Gopalan as president and
Kalyan Bagchi as secretary in 1963 with a
band of nutritionists, dietitians and medical
scientists who were resolved to deal with
problems concerning nutrition and to
highlight the importance of dietetics and
nutrition in the maintenance of health and
also in the prevention and treatment of
disease.
15. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Encourage nutrition education
Promote teaching, research and
training in the field of dietetics and
nutrition and
Safeguard the interests and
welfare of the dietitians.
16. Promote research, extension work and
continuing.
Publish a scientific journal titled.
Conduct Registration Examination, to
prepare dietitians to start their own private
practice.
17. Conduct the annual convention of IDA.
Safeguard the interests of the members
of the Indian Dietetic Association.
Promote interaction with dietetic
associations abroad.
18. MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility for Membership:
a) A Graduate degree (minimum three years) in Home
Science with Foods /Nutrition / Dietetics or Foods &
Nutrition / Clinical Nutrition / Dietetics.
OR
b) A Post-graduation (diploma or degree) in Nutrition /
Dietetics with a graduation in another science discipline
Criteria for Student Membership: Students who are pursuing
graduation (Clinical Nutrition / Nutrition & Dietetics / Home
science with Nutrition).
Annual membership is ₨ 100. Life time membership is
₨ 1000.
19. CHAPTERS
The chapters work closely with institutions
training students for a degree in dietetics as well
as dietetic department of hospitals and nursing
homes.
They run dietetic counselling centres, annual
exhibition of therapeutic diets, symposia on
dietary management of different diseases and
conduct research projects in the field of dietetics
sponsored by different funding agencies.
20. The chapters have been able to increase the
awareness of dietetic management of the
diseases among the administrators of
government and private hospitals.
The chapters are in touch with their
respective state governments to establish
Dietetic Department in every hospitals and
improve the condition of dietitians.
21. REGISTRATION BOARD
69 hospitals in India offer Registration Board
(RD Board) internship for registered dietician
course in India. The internship is supported
by the Indian Dietetic Association.
Bangalore Baptist Hospital,
Manipal Hospital,
Mallya Hospital,
BhagwanMahaveer,
General Hospital and Madras Medical
College,
22. Institute of ChildHealth,
Institute of Obstretics and Gynecology,
Apollo Hospitals,
OsmaniaGeneral Hospital,
Government of AP,
Jaslok Hospital,
Tata Memorial Cancer Research Hospital,
BalabhaiNanavati Hospital are few among the
recognised hospitals for RD Internship in India.
