Nutrition in Health Departments

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NUTRITION IN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

The purpose of a nutrition program in a health department is to promote the nutritional health of the residents living under the health department's jurisdiction. A public health nutritionist with a master's or doctoral degree in nutrition or a related field is trained to direct the program. The program may include providing medical nutrition therapy for chronic diseases such as diabetes, promoting wellness through advice on healthful food patterns, and assessing the nutritional status of children with special needs in their homes. The nutritionist also targets programs to nutritionally at-risk populations such as pregnant women, infants, children, and the elderly.

Mary Ann McGuckin

(see also: Eating Disorders; Foods and Diets; Nutrition; )

Bibliography

Dodds, J. M., and Kaufmann, M., eds. (1991). Personnel in Public Health Nutrition for the 1990's. Washington, DC: The Public Health Foundation.

Owen, A. L.; Splett, P. L.; and Owen, G. (1999). Nutrition in the Community: The Art and Science of Delivering Services, 4th edition. Boston: WCB/McGraw Hill.

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