There are many career opportunities in India for those who are passionate about fitness and health. One such career is as a nutritionist. As a nutritionist, you would help people make healthy food choices and provide advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is a challenging and rewarding career path that can be very fulfilling. If you are interested in persuing a career as a nutritionist in India, there are several things you need to know. In this blog post, we will discuss the job prospects for nutritionists in India, career as a nutritionist in India the necessary qualifications, and the salary range for this profession and also if this is the correct career path for you. Read on to learn more!
QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF A NUTRITIONIST
Nutritionists are people who are passionate about healthy eating and teaching others about the importance of good nutrition. They often have a strong interest in food and health, and they may have experience working in the food industry or as a health coach or fitness trainer. Nutritionists typically need at least a diploma in nutrition or a degree related health field with nutrition certifications. Career as a Nutritionist in India can be extremely rewarding.
Working as a freelancer or in an outpatient facility requires a diploma with an in depth knowledge of nutrition but many hospitals also require them to be licensed or registered dietitians.
People who are interested in becoming nutritionists should be good communicators and able to build relationships with their clients. They should also be comfortable discussing sensitive topics such as weight loss and eating disorders. Nutritionists typically work with individual clients or groups, so they should be organized and able to keep track of multiple schedules.
Some nutritionists also work as research assistants or college professors, so they may need to have advanced degrees in Nutrition. Nutritionists who want to work in clinical settings may also need to complete additional training such as an internship. For this reason, most nutritionists who aspire for a Career as a Nutritionist in India or abroad prefer to become a nutritionist or dietitian instead of a registered dietitian.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGISTERED DIETITIAN, DIETITIAN AND NUTRITIONIST
The difference between a registered dietitian and a nutritionist can be confusing, but it is essentially one of credentials and scope of practice. A registered dietitian must have an RD credential from an accredited program, while a nutritionist may have a diploma or degree from any number of programs. RDs must also complete continuing education requirements and adhere to a code of ethics. Nutritionists do not have to meet these same standards.
Additionally, registered dietitians are able to provide medical nutrition therapy, which is specialized nutrition counseling provided by RDNs to help treat in clinic patients such as those who are hospitalized, arranging their drip, food intake and timings etc.
Nutritionists cannot provide this type of care. So while both professionals may offer advice on healthy eating, registered dietitians are better equipped to provide comprehensive hospital care and nutritionists are equipped for providing tailored recommendations for those who have no such problems and want to lose weight, get healthier or reverse metabolic problems like diabetes, hypertension etc.
It is to be noted that in India the term Registered Dietitian is secured by the state but not the term “DIETITIAN”, therefore most nutritionists also use the term interchangeably. Nutritionists also prefer the terms health coach, nutrition coach or wellness coach.
Scope & Salaries offered to Nutritionist & Dietitian
Talking about the salaries of nutritionists and dietitians can surely be an interesting topic. There is no fixed pay scale or a benchmark salary that seems accepted universally. However, it is well established that Career as a Nutritionist in India is extremely Lucrative monetarily.
The average salaries seem to be quite low in hospital set-ups, while the same goes up drastically as you start working in the private sector. An important point to be noted that the salaries are extremely low in hospitals and other clinical setups which brings the average income down.
Hospital Private clinic Startups
1 year – 8000-12000 15000-22000 20000-30000
2-5 years – 12000-20000 25000-40000 30000-45000
5-9 years – 20000-30000 50000+ 50000+
10+ years – 30000+ 1 Lac+ 1 lac+
An independent practitioner, whether nutritionist or dietitian, can easily command rs 30,000-50,000 in the first year or two, and by year 5 most independent coaches are ideally earning rs 1.5 lakh or more. For this reason those who are looking for a Career as a Nutritionist in India or overseas prefer to have their own practice.
Some figures to give you an idea.. The global wellness industry in 2019 was $5.7 Trillion, and expected to grow to over 8.7 trillion by 2025. Globally the market size of personalized nutrition is projected to grow from $8.3 billion in 2020 to more than $16.5 billion by 2025, recording an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.0% or more during the forecast period.
Certifications you can do to become a Nutritionist and practice on your own as a freelancer:
