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Introduction
An entrepreneur is considered as someone who "Searches for change, responds to it and exploits opportunities" ([7] Drucker, 1966). Factors that influence opportunities for entrepreneurs include entrepreneurial alertness, information symmetry and prior knowledge, social networks plus certain personality traits ([12] Meigounpoory et al. , 2011). Key personality traits associated with entrepreneurs are optimism, self-reliance and creativity ([4] Ardichvili et al. , 2003).
Dietitians are individuals qualified in nutrition plus therapeutic dietetics and are able to advise both individuals and groups on modification to their diet to benefit their health and medical conditions. The British Dietetic Association ([5] BDA, 2012) states:
A dietitian uses the science of nutrition to devise eating plans for patients to treat medical conditions. They promote good health by helping to facilitate a positive change in food choices.
A number of dietitians embrace their clinical expertise, personality traits and opportunities to become entrepreneurs.
Aims
This short paper aims to examine the role of dietitians who work as entrepreneurs.
Methodology
The information is based on an examination of web sites for professional dietitians plus discussions with dietitians working as entrepreneurs. The study has been focussed on the UK and the USA with comments about dietetic practice in other parts of the world.
Findings
USA
In the USA the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the professional organisation supporting dietitians. It is the largest dietetic association in the world and has 74,000 members and they are all graduates trained as registered dietitians.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a number of dietetic practice groups for experts including one for nutrition entrepreneurs - whose focus is described as "experts in the business of nutrition" on their web site (www.NEDPG.org (accessed 19 November 2012)). This group has approximately 8,000 members and has six speciality groups, which are:
authors of various books and contributors to articles in magazine;
coaches supporting individuals and groups;
corporate health which includes those dietitians who produce products and work in commercial organisations;
private practice in health care;
speakers at conferences and on TV and radio; and
technology and social media with dietitians writing blogs.
The nutrition entrepreneurs group provides support and assistance for members throughout the USA ([13] Nutrition Entrepreneurs - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2012). This includes...