Ever wondered how significant of an impact food we eat makes on our health? Fascinated with how a simple switch in your diet can help prevent or control health problems? A degree in Dietetics might just be what you’re looking for!
Dietetics is a field of science that studies how food and nutrition affects overall human health. With a strong emphasis on public health, dietetics functions to educate humans on the importance of smart dietary choices in everyday life.
What do dieticians do?
A professional who chooses to work in this field is known as a dietician. As a dietician, your most prominent responsibility would be to provide your clients and patients with customised meal plans for patients with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. As an example, a patient with diabetes may come in for a consult where you would be required to provide them with a guide on what they should or should not eat as a diabetic. However, you may also provide advice and guidance to clients without medical conditions- just looking to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Roles and responsibilities of dieticians might include:
- Collaborating with food manufactures to improve the nutritional quality of prepared meals
- Researching how dietary changes affect health
- Improving the understanding and accuracy of food labels
- Increasing public awareness of nutritional habits and standards
- Provide medical nutrition therapy or nutritional programs for patients in institutions such as hospitals and nursing care facilities
What’s the difference between a Dietician and a Nutritionist?
Here are the key differences between a Dietician and a Nutritionist:
Nutritionists work with clients in promoting healthy eating habits and a balanced lifestyle to improve the quality of health. Clients that work with nutritionist are generally healthy people, looking for advice and guidance in improving their daily eating habits.
However, Dieticians generally work with clients with serious health issues such obesity, diabetes and eating disorders by offering expert advice on eating habits. They aid their clients in developing the best diet plan to help manage their health conditions.
Skills Needed to Become a Dietician
- Good communication skills
As a dietician, you must be able to work well with patients and clients to discuss their medical or diet concerns. Similar to doctors, dieticians should be able to communicate efficiently with their patients and clients. You should be able to listen tentatively and answer any questions they may have while soothing their worries or concerns. At times, dieticians may also work with loved ones of their patients.
- Problem-solving skills
Next, most times dieticians are faced with clients or patients that are looking to solve a problem; either a healthy concern or a medical concern. A dietician would then have to look critically at problems and come up with effective solutions. A dietitian is responsible for finding solutions to some of the issues that patients may face in today’s age such as not having access to certain types of food or living in a condition that lacks proper kitchen appliances.
- Compassion & a positive mindset
It is extremely important for you to be compassionate with a positive mindset when dealing with patients from different backgrounds with various needs. Health and wellbeing may be a sensitive topic to many people. As a dietitian, you will deal with different patients and their needs can be overwhelming. You will be looked to for guidance and advice for their specific needs. In some cases, you may also be required to build confidence in your patients to help them lead a healthier lifestyle.
What Will You Study In A Dietetics Degree?
A degree in Dietetics will equip you with skills and knowledge required for dietetic practice including the topics of food, human anatomy and nutrition. Generally, you will be learning modules such as physiology, biochemistry, human nutrition, psychology, physiology and nutrition therapy. You will also learn the methods of creating a diet plan for average individuals along with individuals with health conditions.
Some examples of core subjects you would undergo in a Dietetics degree include:
- Human Biology
- Organic Chemistry
- Food Safety and Regulations
- Sports Nutrition
- Food Service Management
- Pharmacology
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
You will be generally addressed through a variety of mediums including class tests, practicals, reports, workshops, essay, problem-based learning, projects, presentations, thesis and written examinations.
Upon completing all the modules in your degree, you will be required to undergo practicum for your last year. Typically, your practicum period would consist of rotations between hospitals for clinical dietetics practicum, government and private facility for community nutrition practicum and the food service industry for food service management.
Career Pathway of a Dietetics Graduate in Malaysia
Upon graduating with a Dietetics degree, you may pursue careers in various scope of work such as:
a) Patient care & consultancy
- Government, private hospitals and clinics
- Nursing homes, dialysis center, rehabilitation homes
- Retail pharmacies
- Health & wellness centers
- Digital health industry
b) Food Service & Management
- Government and private hospitals
- Nursing and rehabilitation homes
- International and boarding schools
- Sports institutes
- Food outlets and factories
c) Sports
- Sports’ and athlete training institute
- Fitness centers
d) Corporate
- Food or pharmaceutical industry
e) Academia Research
- Universities
- Research institutes
f) Entrepreneurship & Business
- Businesses and start-ups
- Digital health platforms
General Entry Requirement for Studying A Dietetics Degree in Malaysia
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Qualification | Scores |
A-Levels | Min. 2Ds (including Biology, Chemistry or Physics/Chemistry) |
STPM | Min. CGPA 2.5 (including 2C+s in Biology, Chemistry or Physics/Mathematics) |
Foundation in Science | Min. CGPA 2.5 (including 2C+s in Biology, Chemistry or Physics/Mathematics) |
Diploma | Min. CGPA of 2.75 |
Australian Matriculation | Min. ATAR of 70 (including 2Bs in Biology, Chemistry or Physics/Mathematics) |
*NOTE : Different universities have different entry requirements. Contact us for more information.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Qualification | Scores |
MUET | Min. 3 |
IELTS | Min. 5.5 |
TOEFL (IBT) | Min. 92 |
*NOTE : Different universities have different entry requirements. Contact us for more information.
Where Can You Study a Dietetics Degree in Malaysia
#1 International Medical University (IMU)
Photo Source: IMU
Program Offered | Bachelor of Science (Hons) Dietetics with Nutrition |
Program Duration | 4 years (Full time) |
Intake | Jul & Sept |
Indicative Fee (2021) |
#2 University of Cyberjaya
Photo Source: University of Cyberjaya
Program Offered | Bachelor of Dietetics |
Program Duration | 4 years (Full time) |
Intake | Jan & Aug |
Indicative Fee (2021) |
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About the Author
Raveena Rakni Suresh Raj
Leo baby & psych major