thread: nutrition or dietetics???

  1. #1
    Registered User

    May 2008
    ...where jumping on the bed is mandatory!
    2,225

    nutrition or dietetics???

    Im looking into doing a course from home, i thought nutrition was the one, but im looking at jobs in the area i want to work in and it look like dietetics is the thing they ask for, are they basically the same thing?? i have no idea. i cant find anywhere that offers a dietetics course from home.

    Any one with ANY knowledge about this sort of area please???? id love to know any and all? Thanks.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    2,269

    Dietetics is a longer course usually (3 years vs 4 years) and is a step up from Nutrition. My best friend did one year Nutrition in order to get into Dietetics as her high school score wasn't quite enough originally, there are overlapping aspects. I can't really think how to explain the difference, Dietetics is more medical I guess... you can organise tube feeds and things, you learn more about how illness impacts the bodies need for things. She is a Dietician now (works in a hospital), I can ask her more about the difference next time we speak.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    May 2008
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    thanks so much. the nutrition (health science, nutritional medicine) course is three years , but twice that if im doing in from home. I dont want to do it then have to do another three years course to get to where i want to be, i have seen a course that is a one year nutrition course then three years dietetics, but not from home i dont know if i could do all that science anyway, i dont feel like im smart enough!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    You can do Dietetics as a one year add-on at some institutes.

  5. #5
    Registered User
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    Oct 2009
    Brisbane
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    ok, heres my understanding....

    Dietetics is the science behind the diet. You learn how to count calories, grams of fat, sugar, protein, carbs, all of that. You will be able to formulate meal plans, diets and be able to 'tweak' peoples diets up and down to achieve the desired results (this is very simplified)

    Nutritional medicine is the science of healing illness and conditions through diet. This is done through diet modifications as well as using food as medicine. (also simplified)

    It really depends what you want to do in the end.

    Ie. a dietician can work in hospitals, with sports teams and things like that. Advising on diet, health and / or weightloss.

    A nutritionist could work with diabetes, use food to treat allergies, illnesses and other ailments. You would prescribe diets and or foods to reduce various symptoms and increase the quality of peoples lives....

    Good luck with your decision.

  6. #6
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    May 2008
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    WOW. thanks kimmi! now that is awesomely simplified, just what i needed. Thank you SOOOOO much! i see you are in that sort of field. are you enjoying it?? where do you study?
    I will find out if i could do a one year add on after this course, then i can do that after if i want to, sounds good to me.

  7. #7
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    Oct 2009
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    Hey There,

    I'm studying at the Endeavour College of Natural Medicine. There are campuses all over the country as well as distance education. I'm thinking of transitioning to Nutrition from Naturopathy myself. I really do enjoy The Bachelor of Health Sciences, Naturopathy, but there are some minor diagnostic techniques that I don't / can't agree with. Of course I wouldn't ever have to use them in my practice, however I would probably have to use those techniques in the student clinic, and I couldn't do that with total honest commitment to the client.

    I know I want to be in this field in some capacity. Naturopathy has a huge component of nutrition. I just don't know exactly how I am going to finish it.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    May 2008
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    Thats the place that is offering the course im looking at. Is it a good place? SO great to hear first hand from someone involved in something so similar. Do you want to have your own practice? that wasnt something i had thought about doing, but reading the info on this course it would qualify me to do that.
    The amount of science etc involved is kind of freaking me out abit.
    A lady is calling me on monday for a phone interview. but i wouldnt be able to start it for about six months yet. $$$$$

  9. #9
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    Oct 2009
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    I think they have really great online facilities... Great lecturers. A world of information at your fingertips. I certainly find that the sciences are really indepth, and if you keep up with lectures and tutes, you will be fine. IF you were to get behind, well, catching up is difficult. Some subjects, such as Chemistry and Biochemistry for example probably require 12 hours a week at least, and thats just one subject. The thing is, you can study at your own pace.

    I'm not entirely sure what I want out of it. I am primarily studying to get my own life back on track. Take control of my health and finally be in charge of me. I seem to have undergone a paradigm shift in my mentality, especially in the last few weeks - I can't be happier. As far as my own practice goes, yeah, I think I would like to look at that. I would like to team up with various health practitioners to create a whole body wellness centre.