DIETETICS: AN

INTRODUCTION
Lecture: 1
Theory
Course Code: HND-501
Credit Hours: 3 (2-1)
Course Title: Dietetics-І
BS. (Hons.) HND
Semester: 5th
Dietetics
■ The word diet is derived from the Latin diaeta, meaning mode of
life
■ The word dietetics was noted in the early writings of :
 Hippocrates (460 BC) : Greek physician, commonly known as father
of medicine, who laid foundation of scientific medicine by removing
philosophical speculation from medical study
 Plato (460–348 BC) : Greek philosopher
 Galen (130–200 AD): Greek anatomist, physician and writer whose
theories formed basis of European medicine
Dietetics - definitions
Following are some of the definitions of Dietetics:
■ Dietetics is study of relationship between nutrition and health
■ Dietetics is study of diet and nutrition in relation to health and disease
■ The branch of knowledge concerned with the diet and its effects on
health, especially with the practical application of a scientific
understanding of nutrition
■ The integration and application of principles derived from the
disciplines of food, nutrition, management, communication,
biological, physiological, behavioural and social sciences to achieve
and maintain human health
(American Dietetic Association)
Continued…
■ Dietetics is the integration, application and communication of
principles derived from food, nutrition, social, business and basic
sciences, to achieve and maintain optimal nutrition status of
individuals through development, provision and management of
effective food and nutrition services in a variety of settings
( Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
■ Dietetics is the interpretation and communication of nutrition
science to enable people to make informed and practical choices
about food and lifestyle in health and disease
Dietetics- History
■ The history of dietetics can be traced as far back as the writings of Homer,
Plato and Hippocrates in ancient Greece
■ Although diet and nutrition continued to be judged important for health,
dietetics did not progress much till the 19th century with the advances in
chemistry
■ Early research focused focuses on vitamin deficiency diseases while later
workers proposed daily requirements for protein, fat and carbohydrates
■ Dietetics as a profession was given a boost during the Second World War
when its importance was recognized by the military
■ Today, professional dietetic associations can be found on every continent,
and registered dietitians are involved in health promotion and treatment,
and work alongside physicians
Origin of Dietetics ad Diet therapy
■ In ancient Greeks, Dietetics has constituted a branch of the medical
art but was not recognized as a profession officially
■ Intervention in the nutritional habits of the patient was a method of
treatment
■ Physicians and philosophers believed that proper diet was a
precondition for intellectual well-being
■ Dietetics was known in the 8th century BC
■ In Homer’s epic The Iliad, Podalirius, one physician was recognized
for his special interest in dietetics
Continued…
■ Hippocrates (5th century BC), presented his nutritional concepts in
his work On diet.
■ Some of his statements are in agreement with current research, such
as “persons who are naturally very fat are apt to die earlier than those
who are slender”
■ According to Plato (5th-4th century BC), a moderate and thus healthy
diet consists of cereals, legumes, fruits, milk, honey and fish
■ The dietary patterns presented in the Platonic dialogues were very
similar to the current Mediterranean diet
■ Plato suggested that the therapeutic approach to human diseases
should be made through the regulation of diet rather than with
Continued…
■ Members of the famous medical school of Alexandria like Erasistratus and
Herophilus (3rd century BC), Celsus (1st century AD) and Galen (2nd
century AD), produced many writings on diet
■ Galen stressed the therapeutic value of climate and a full diet for
tuberculosis, and emphasized the value of milk in the treatment of disease
■ Hospital dietetics appeared in the 12th century as shown in the records of
the history of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, the oldest British
hospital, established in 1123
■ Four different kinds of diet existed at that time; the common diet, the broth
diet, the thin or fever diet, and the milk diet
■ By end of 20th century, therapeutic diets were usually named after the
physician who prescribed them, such as Meulengraght’s diet and the Sippy
diet
The evolution of dietetics as a
profession
■ Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), founder of the nursing
profession, was also designated the first hospital dietitian
■ During Crimean War, she catered the nutritional needs of soldier-
patients in barracks hospital in Scutari
■ Alexis Soyer (1809–1858), a famous chef born in France, also went
to the Crimea, where he was recognized as the first army dietitian
■ In 1936, first male member of the American Dietetic Association,
and an increasing number of young men followed
International Dietetics
■ Dietetic associations now exist in many countries on every continent
■ They all have their own qualifications for academic and professional
education
■ They may differ in the scope of their dietetic and nutritional
activities, as these are adapted to the needs of the individual
countries and the opportunities available
Dietetics in the USA
■ Sarah Tyson Rorer (1849–1937) was the first American dietitian
■ She gave physicians classes in dietetics and lectured 4th-year
medical students at the University of Pennsylvania
Continued…
■ In October 1917, under the leadership of Lenna Cooper and Lulu
Graves, dietitians met and organized the American Dietetic
Association, which set qualifications and standards of training for
members of this new profession
■ In Second World War, 2000 dietitians were commissioned by the
armed services
■ By end of century, around 70 000 members, the American Dietetic
Association had become the world’s largest organization of food
and nutrition professionals
■ The website, www.eatright.org, contains a wealth of nutrition
information
Continued…
Dietetics in Asia
■ In Japan, Dietetics started in 1925 with the foundation of the first dietetic
school and the graduation of the first Japanese dietitians a year later
■ The Japanese Dietetic Association was established in 1945
■ In India, the nutrition and dietetics branch of study was created in 1980 yet
dietitians were not able to receive the dignified status that other members
of the heath care team usually obtained
Dietetics in Europe
■ With the establishment of an official definition by the International Labour
Office in Geneva, the profession of dietetics was recognized among the
paramedical professions and coded under group 0.69
Continued…
■ In 12 European countries dietetics was recognized as job title and clinical
dietetics was a common area of practice
■ In Britain, the British Dietetic Association was set up in 1936, with the majority
of members being clinical dietitians
■ The association now has more than 5000 members, mostly qualified dietitians
holding a degree or postgraduate diploma recognized for registration by the
Health Professions Council
■ Netherlands has approximately 5000 trained dietitians since 1935
Dietetics in Africa
■ In a survey conducted by Calabro across 61 countries of Africa, code of ethics
of dietetics does not exist in most countries
■ Clinical dietetics was the most frequently selected area of practice, teaching