Why are there so few male dietitians?
Nutrition in Recovery owner David Wiss is one of the few male private practice dietitians in Los Angeles. It is tempting to speculate why there are so few male dietitians in general, but one of the apparent reasons stems from its historical context. Nutrition programs originated from the Home Economics curriculum and, to this day, are often considered a “Family and Consumer Science.” There is a long history of gender bias in the field.
From an observational standpoint, a majority of the male dietitians become interested in Sports Nutrition and many obtain advanced degrees in exercise science. Before deciding to become a Registered Dietitian in Los Angeles, Mr. Wiss worked as a personal trainer, certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. While exploring the different domains of nutrition, the areas of behavioral health (addiction, eating disorders, and mental health) became of the highest interest to David, mainly since there are so many men struggling with these issues and not seeking or getting adequate help.
Mr. Wiss recently published a chapter called “Muscle Dysmorphia: Where Body Image Obsession, Compulsive Exercise, Disordered Eating, and Substance Abuse Intersect in Susceptible Males” in a textbook titled Eating Disorders, Addictions, and Substance Use Disorders, which is available through Springer Publishing.
If you are a male in Los Angeles struggling with addiction, eating disorders, or mental health issues, contact David today and start the journey towards recovery together.
