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American Dietetic Association
American Dietetic Association
The American Dietetic Association, also known as the ADA, is a public group that is focused on the state of nutrition and diet in America. The American Dietetic Association is the largest professional food and nutrition organization in the United States, and is responsible for certifying dieticians and dietetic technicians.
The American Dietetic Association’s mission is to lead the future of dietetics. They are currently focused on five health issues they feel are critical: Obesity; healthy aging; obtaining nutritious food safely and sustainably; investigating nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics and integrative medicine. They have fifty state dietetic associations, plus dietetic associations in Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
One of the most important duties of the American Dietetics Association is to certify dieticians. In order to be registered, dieticians must get a bachelor’s degree. The coursework must be approved by the American Dietetics Association, and involves business, economics, food service systems management, food and nutrition sciences, sociology, biochemistry, and microbiology. In addition, candidates mush complete an accredited “practice program” at a community agency, foodservice corporation or a health-care facility. After that, candidates must pass an exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Over three-quarters of the members of the American Dietetic Association are registered dieticians. The credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association is the Commission on Dietetic Registration, which monitors the status of all registered dieticians.
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the American Dietetic Association’s official periodical. It is published monthly, and focuses on original research and provides reports and commentary regarding current information and trends in diet and nutrition studies. The American Dietetic Association also works hard to communicate the importance of good nutrition to the public with their web site www.eatright.org. The web site provides consumer tip, news releases, consumer FAQs and the Good Nutrition Reading List. Visitors can also search for a registered dietician near them.
The American Dietetic Association works very closely with state and federal governments. Issues they are concerned with child nutrition, obesity, medical nutrition therapy and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The American Dietetic Association also established National Nutrition Month in March of 1973, and regularly puts out statements on such nationally important diet-related issues such as elderly nutrition, food technology and consumer education.
Charity is also a part of the American Dietetic Association with their American Dietetic Association Foundation, which was established in 1966 to fund the future of the dietetics profession through research and education, according to their web site.
