The Field

Nutrition is the study of the relationship between foods and health. Nutritionists teach people about preventing or treating nutrition-related problems such as obesity, diabetes and eating disorders; help solve community problems such as hunger; provide nutrition education to children in schools and adults in worksite and community centers; work in hospitals and clinics providing nutrition counseling and care plans; address malnutrition in developing countries; work with medical supplement and food companies to develop and promote nutritionally-sound products; and perform research in how nutrients, foods and the diet can prevent diseases such as heart disease and cancer, and treat many other conditions. There are also increasing opportunities in the intersection of health care and technology for nutrition graduates. Nutrition is also an excellent major to prepare for medical, dental school or PA school, graduate school (in fields such as public health, nutrition, and nursing), and public school teaching.