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Nutrition personal statement example.

I have always found anything to do with science fascinating from a very young age. My father being a medical doctor and my mother a nurse, I have grown to appreciate how medical science can be applied to help sustain life in general. However, my desire is to take that further by developing skills that can help integrate science and the general public together as I have realized the ever growing importance of nutrition, as my goal is to pursue a career as a nutritionist. There is more demand now than ever for people to learn the effects and functions of food due to an increased rise in illnesses that are linked to food, for example, obesity, anorexia, diabetes, malnutrition and many more. I believe as a nutritionist I will be required to educate and advise the public about food and create suitable dietary information for different groups of people and also to provide concrete scientific explanation which is just one out of countless reasons that drove me towards studying as a nutritionist.

The idea of going into a profession that requires constant development in technicalities, approaches and personalities with a global outreach is a burning desire. Hopefully, I will be able to help countries in developing or underdeveloped economies with my skills.

My preparation for a lifetime career as a nutritionist is on going. From my understanding so far about nutrition, it is mostly about giving comprehensive patient care. The skills of the nutritionist are crucial to modern medicine. At A level, I developed a number of portfolios that were research based. One of the portfolios was on food technology and another was planning and carrying out a scientific investigation. In these units, things I did were to find out the effects of cooking and drying on vitamin C levels in food and designing a vegetarian meal. Part of this research included using volumetric analysis with apparatus such as burette, pipette, etc.

I have had some experience in the working world, which has enabled me to gain a wider perspective of my education. Since May 2006, I have been employed with Southern Cross care homes (The largest care company in Britain)as a health care assistant for the elerly and I have found it a very worthwhile experience and as a result I matured a great deal. As part of my community service, I was fortunate to be involved in a scheme in which I was able to help a younger student in year seven with mathematics and science. I gained patience and good listening skills, tools that are valuable in studying nutrition. I have also participated in a number of school based quizzes in my early stages of secondary education whilst back in Zambia.

I was born in Ashford, Middlesex in England- four months before my father completed his 5 year post graduate studies in the UK and returned to Zambia. Ever since going to Zambia, I attended Tatenda early learning trust school, Chipembi girls secondary school and Thornhill boarding school in Zambia. This is where I attained Primary Leaving and junior secondary school leaving Certificates. I returned to the UK in October 2004 and continued with my education at Cheney school in Oxford.

I enjoy talking to people, making friends, reading, cycling, theatre, music and plays. I am a very committed and hard working person and therefore believe that University is the ideal place for me to extend my education as I am confident that I will meet the demands made by studying nutrition at degree level.

I feel ecstatic about going to University as I believe it will be an amazing experience for me, both educationally and socially. I can only now thank you in anticipation and only hope you will consider me as a prospective student at your university in September 2008.

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The schools mentioned here are in Zimbabwe not Zambia.

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Nutritional and health sciences personal statement

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  • Published: 19th July 2019
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According to the United States, there are approximately 678,000 deaths each year because of unhealthy eating diet. Health related problems are one of the major concerns in this 21st century. Health is an issue which will affect not only the individual but also the community. One of the main factors of maintaining an optimum positive health is the food consumption. Lack of nutritional foods will lead to nutrient deficiency diseases. Therefore, individuals will seek for nutritional advice to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Master program in School of Nutrition and Health Sciences focuses on a variety of areas of nutrition and its relationship to human health and growth in both healthy and non-healthy individuals.

My name is Kxxxxxx Wxx, I am a Bachelor degree holder in Science, majoring in Food Science and Technology. Throughout my studies in Monash University Malaysia, I had learned the skills, concepts and principles of food science and technology. These includes regional food culture, industrial application of food science and technology, types of food materials and manufacturing process. I also studied the qualitative and quantitative analytical skills of foods, laboratory research technique, quality control in food science and technology and food processing. I am an active and enthusiastic student and I am looking forward to join the Master programme in Nutrition and Health Sciences at Taipei Medical University. A Master’s degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences will provide me with diverse career opportunities and allow me to practice nutrition in various areas. This includes public or private health care industry, health administration in governmental and non-governmental organization or institution, research and academia. Furthermore, the master degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences will strengthen my research skills abilities and will pave my way to gain my PhD degree in a similar field later. I have a strong interest in conducting research that are relevant to human health, nutrition and the association between human health and metabolism and diabetics.

My interest in Nutrition and Health Sciences started through my readings in this field. I found myself interested in nutrition and the impact of food on health. This major will be of utmost priority as I have already planned my career path. I am quite assured that Taipei Medical University is where my academic dreams will come true. Due to the increase in awareness of food nutrition and consumption and its direct effect towards human body, professional whom are specialized in nutrition and health sciences are highly needed in hope for a healthier society. Therefore, it is my ambition to educate and contribute my humble expertise to the society with the knowledge gained from the Taipei Medical University.

I am interested in Taipei Medical University because it is portrayed as a diverse university which is a home for international students. Taipei Medical University is also known for its great research resources and experienced faculty members. I am confident that I am equipped with the necessary requirements and qualifications to pursue my masters in Nutrition and Health sciences with flying colours. As an international student, it is of no doubt that the level of adaptation with the local culture is vital, but with sheer determination and perseverance, I am adamant that persistence is the key to success. With all my respect, I am hoping that the Admissions Committee finds my credentials suitable in this respect and guide me on the right path. I am looking forward to your humble reply. Thank you.

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  • Dietetic Personal Statement Examples

Our dietetics personal statement examples will give you inspiration and the edge you need to stand out in your university application and secure your spot in the programme. These examples will provide good guidance for applicants who are applying for Dietetic and Nutrition courses at UK universities . 

Read dietetic personal statements below. 

Dietetic Personal Statement

Unlocking the potential of a well-balanced diet to transform lives and promote healthier lifestyles – is my passion and my calling as a prospective dietitian. The importance of a well-balanced diet to a healthy lifestyle is something that I have always been aware of and I would like to help others achieve this by changing their dietary habits. With obesity rates on the rise, I believe that the role of dietitians will become increasingly important in addressing society’s health issues. 

My studies at Schoolcraft College in Subjects Allied to Healthcare have provided me with a solid foundation in chemistry and biology and have also given me a taste of the demands of university-level education. Additionally, I have attended various short courses on nutrition and dietetics, such as Kensington and Chelsea College’s course on Nutrition, Healthy Eating and Weight Management, which was particularly impactful as it was led by Antia Tull, whose books on nutrition have greatly influenced my understanding of the subject.

My previous work experience as a nanny has also played a significant role in my decision to pursue a career in dietetics. The close relationship that I formed with the children in my care and the role that food plays in their development made me realize the impact that a good-quality diet can have on a child’s long-term development and day-to-day behaviour. I have made it a personal mission to educate myself on nutrition and dietetics while working as a nanny to ensure that the children in my care are receiving the best possible start in life.

Furthermore, my experience as a sales assistant has taught me how to work well under pressure and as part of a team, both of which are important skills for healthcare professionals. My internship experience at Dr Andrew’s Nutrition further solidified my desire to pursue a career in dietetics. During my 6-month internship, I was able to gain hands-on experience in the field and learn about the various aspects of dietetics. It was a valuable opportunity that gave me a deeper understanding of the profession and the impact that dietitians can have on people’s lives.

My ultimate goal is to work as a pediatric dietitian, where I can combine my love of child care with my enthusiasm for nutrition and make a positive impact in the lives of children. I am excited about the possibility of achieving this goal through further education and training in the field of dietetics.

Dietetic Personal Statement Example

I am excited to apply for the dietetic course because of my long-standing interest in nutrition and my desire to work in the healthcare industry. My passion for chemistry, food science, and understanding how nutrition impacts the human body led me to pursue this career path. My biology A-level provided a foundation for my interest in the variations of dietary needs throughout the life cycle. Additionally, a week of shadowing a dietitian solidified my decision to pursue this career and exposed me to the various challenges and rewards of nutrition.

I believe that my A-level subjects in biology and chemistry will be beneficial as the programme is divided into academic and clinical components. The first year of the program focuses heavily on biochemistry, and my background in these subjects will aid in my understanding. Additionally, my math skills will be useful as the programme includes many calculations for determining specific dietary needs. While some aspects of the programme, such as behavioural sciences and professional studies, will be new to me, my work experience has given me a glimpse into these skills in practice.

Upon graduation, my goal is to work as a dietitian for the National Health Service in the UK. I consider myself to be organised, committed, and friendly, all traits that will serve me well in the field of dietetics. I am diligent in completing assignments on time and to a high standard, and I enjoy planning my days to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. My drive to succeed is exemplified by my decision to attend a college with a more rigorous curriculum despite the added commute. Additionally, I am comfortable interacting with others in unfamiliar situations, an important skill in a career that relies heavily on communication.

In my spare time, I enjoy participating in a variety of activities that further develop my skills. I volunteer as a young guide leader for my local group, working towards a leadership qualification that will help me develop teamwork and leadership skills. Additionally, I am a member of a local gym to improve my fitness and build self-confidence, and I work part-time at a retail store, honing my customer service skills. Furthermore, I take part in my college’s enrichment programme, including IT and Queen’s Scout Award, which have provided me with qualifications in text production and developed my teamwork and leadership skills. I am eager to begin the dietetic course and contribute to the field through my dedication and passion for the subject.

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personal statement for nutrition and health

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Tips for a Successful Application

In the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, we want you to be successful when applying to our graduate programs. Think of your application as a way to help us get to know you. Who are you? What do you want to do with this degree? What would you contribute to our school culture? How can we help you be successful? Your application will be reviewed by two faculty members on the Nutritional Sciences Admissions Committee.  Our approach is both holistic and thorough and we truly enjoy learning about you as a future graduate student.

Creating an Application that Will Help You Stand Out

These tips will help you submit the strongest application possible for our programs. 

Writing Your Personal Statement

Writing a great personal statement takes time. We highly encourage you to seek feedback on your drafts from mentors and peers. A strong personal statement:

  • Articulates a clear focus related to pursuing a nutrition degree and intention in applying to the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Michigan Public Health.
  • Demonstrates critical reasoning and sophistication in making linkages between career goals and the expected learning and benefits of graduate education in nutritional sciences.
  • Connects past academic, professional, and personal experiences and training to skills and knowledge that will be acquired through a graduate degree in nutritional sciences.
  • Expresses specific interest in the curricula of the department and/or the research of specific faculty (particularly for MS and PhD students).
  • Has few to no grammatical errors, demonstrates English fluency, and indicates that the applicant has a high capacity to clearly communicate ideas in writing.

Showcasing Your Professional and Volunteer Experiences

The amount and quality of your professional and volunteer experiences will be evaluated as we review your application. Strong candidates generally have worked in a position using nutrition and/or public health skills, whether it be after their undergraduate degree or during summers. Experiences vary but may include AmeriCorps or PeaceCorps service, policy work,  food banks, health departments, school or community gardens, clinical nutrition shadowing, fitness and other non-profit organizations.  A clear dedication to nutrition and public health through volunteer experiences during college or after are highly valued. Brief periods of professional/volunteer experience will be given less consideration as compared to longer experiences.  

Highlighting Your Academic Record

Your previous grades, whether during undergraduate education, a previous master’s degree, or while you took our prerequisite courses outside of a degree program, are an important component of your application. An undergraduate GPA higher than 3.4 is generally considered acceptable for admission. However, GPAs of 3.0-3.4 may also be admissible as long as your grades in math and science courses (biology, chemistry, calculus, etc.) are above 3.0. 

We understand that some students have had challenges during their academic career, such as caring for a sick parent or major financial stressors. If you’ve experienced challenges, let us know in your reflective essay. We want to be able to consider your academic record in the context of those life experiences and we appreciate hearing how students have persevered through tough times. 

Finally, although our required prerequisite courses are all in the natural sciences, we embrace students with diverse backgrounds. In the past we’ve had anthropologists, dancers, English majors, and philosophers enroll. Just make sure your application demonstrates that you can succeed in rigorous natural science courses and use your personal statements to share with us why nutritional sciences is your calling. 

We encourage international applicants to carefully review the additional information provided on our International Applicants page .

Securing Strong Recommendation Letters

You are required to have three recommendation letters submitted with your application. We highly encourage you to ask previous professors and/or supervisors to write these letters. Letters from friends or relatives are discouraged as they are often not able to speak to your academic and professional accomplishments. 

When asking people to write your recommendation letters, it’s helpful to give them your resume and personal statement to review so they know what your passions are and why you are applying to our program. We also recommend that you give people at least a month to write and submit your letters, and think about a back-up letter writer in case someone becomes unavailable. 

Addressing Missing Prerequisite Courses

We prefer that your prerequisites are completed before reviewing your application, however many students are still in the process of completing them in their undergraduate degree or separately through online, community or local colleges and universities. If you are missing one to two prerequisite courses, please state in your application when you plan to take these courses. You can be conditionally admitted to the program and will be notified in your acceptance letter that your courses must be complete prior to beginning your first academic term with a B grade or better.      

If you are missing three prerequisite courses, please state in your application when you plan to take these courses. The Admissions Committee is unable to make a final decision on your application until at least one out of the three prerequisites is complete. You will be contacted by the program coordinator to confirm that a concrete plan is in place to complete the required courses. Once you have a maximum of two missing prerequisite courses, the Admissions Committee can use midterm or final grades for courses in progress to move your application through the process to and may either admit you or conditionally admit you.

If you are missing four or more prerequisite courses, please contact the program coordinator , to discuss if it is feasible for you to complete these courses before the admissions deadline.  

Tips for Prospective PhD Students

Below are some frequently asked questions for those interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Nutritional Sciences.

What is the first step to applying to the PhD program? 

The most important thing about applying to and enrolling in a PhD program is the fit between you and your mentor/advisor. This will be a lifelong relationship, it’s great to make sure that you have scientific interests in common and complementary expectations regarding communication, engagement, etcetera. As a first step, we strongly suggest that you review our faculty profiles and read more about their research . Then, send an email to faculty who share your research interests, inquire if they are accepting PhD students in the year you plan to apply, and indicate your interest in specific faculty on your application. Doctoral applicants who are admissible and have a potential mentor match are invited to a Research Day in late January. Because a good mentor-mentee relationship is so critical to your success, we do not admit students who do not have a clear faculty mentoring plan.

What are the prerequisites for the PhD program? 

One semester of each: Calculus or Statistics, *General Chemistry, *Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Physiology (must be Human Physiology OR Anatomy and Physiology NOT mammalian or animal. The physiology curriculum must include the digestive and endocrine systems.) *no lab required

Where should I complete the prerequisites that I am missing? 

Prerequisites can be completed at a university, community college, or an online institution and it must be a regionally accredited institution .  Contact a Nutritional Sciences program coordinator if you have any questions regarding your selected course(s).  

How should I submit the transcript once I have completed a prerequisite?  Where do I send the transcript? 

Send your transcript by email to the Nutritional Sciences program coordinator . You may also mail your transcript to: Attn: Carole Durgy, Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Public Health, Department of Nutritional Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

What is the minimum GPA for admission? 

An undergraduate GPA of at least  3.4 is generally considered acceptable for admission. However, GPAs of 3.0-3.4 are also admissible as long as your grades in math and sciences courses (biology, chemistry, calculus, etc.) are above 3.0.

Do I need to have a degree in Nutrition? 

No! Successful applicants demonstrate a strong interest in science and health, most have an undergraduate or master’s degree in some field of basic or applied science, and, at a minimum, all need to have taken courses in biology, physiology, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and calculus. 

Can I complete the registered dietitian (RD) requirements with the PhD? 

Yes, it is possible to complete the RD requirements while pursuing your PhD. The decision will be made jointly with your faculty mentor to determine the timing and funding.

Is the GRE required? 

Michigan Public Health does not require and does not review GRE or other standardized test scores for admission to any master's or doctoral programs. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on required application components. Please contact our admissions staff at [email protected] if you have questions.

Do I need to have a master’s degree? 

Although a prior master’s degree is preferred for our PhD students, it is not required. Applicants who have strong prior professional or research experience with only bachelor’s degrees will be considered.

Do I need to have research experience? 

No, but research experience either though paid or volunteer positions, or prior coursework, does strengthen your application. All applicants, regardless of prior experience, should discuss why a research degree is the best next step for your career.

Am I fully funded and what does that mean? 

We make sure that there is a plan to financially support your time in our program when we admit you.  . This means that some very qualified applicants may not be accepted if there is not funding available. We highly encourage applicants to connect with faculty members whose research interests match theirs in order to get a sense of whether funding might be available. Our funding packages are often a combination of various types of funding sources: Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions, Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) positions, training grants, and fellowships. 

Tips for Prospective Master’s Degree Students

Below are some tips and frequently asked questions for those interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science (MS) in Nutritional Sciences.

Should I get an MS or MPH? 

The bottom line is that the MS is a research degree while the MPH is a practice degree. The MS requires less coursework because students will spend the majority of their time conducting original research with a faculty member. Here are short articles about some of our faculty, students and their interests. The MS applicant may have already participated in undergraduate research or have worked in a research position.  This is helpful however not mandatory. A true desire and passion to engage in a research project at the thesis level makes for a strong candidate. The MPH includes more coursework and applied practice experiences to provide students comprehensive training in public health and nutrition. Both MS and MPH students can complete the coursework required to be eligible to become a Registered Dietitian (RD).

What are the prerequisites for the MPH program?

One semester of each: *General Chemistry, *Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Physiology (must be Human Physiology OR Anatomy and Physiology NOT mammalian or animal. The physiology curriculum must include the digestive and endocrine systems.)  *no lab required 

Dietetic prerequsistes inlcude: Microbiology, English, and any Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology course

What are the prerequisites for the MS program? 

Prerequisites can be completed at a university, community college, or an online institution and it must be a regionally accredited institution . Contact the Nutritional Sciences program coordinator if you have any questions regarding your selected course(s).  

How should I submit the official transcript once I have completed a prerequisite?  Where do I send the transcript? 

Send your official transcript by email to Keegan Gramza, [email protected], Nutritional Sciences Student Services Coordinator. You may also mail your transcript to: Attn: Keegan Gramza, Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Public Health, Department of Nutritional Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. We suggest reaching out to your home institution's registrar's office to learn more about the options available. 

How large is the department?

Although each cohort varies, we typically have between 25 and 35 students enrolled in each MPH cohort, 6-12 students in each MS cohort and a total of 15-20 students pursuing their PhD.

An undergraduate GPA higher than 3.4 is generally considered acceptable for admission. However, GPAs of 3.0-3.4 are also admissible as long as your grades in math and sciences courses (biology, chemistry, calculus, etc.) are above 3.0.

Michigan Public Health practices a holistic review process when making graduate students admission decisions. Faculty reviewers give careful consideration to all materials submitted by a student. We look at grades and key coursework, essays, experience, and letters of recommendation. 

Do most students work while in graduate school? 

A majority of students work a minimum of 10 hours a week during the academic year. It is recommended that during a student’s first semester, they do not work more than 10 hours a week since there is an adjustment period to starting a graduate program. Some students are able to balance 20 hours a week while attending school. 

How do I get involved in research if I am pursuing an MPH degree? 

Many MPH students find research opportunities (paid or volunteer positions) by contacting Nutritional Sciences faculty . Research opportunities across the School of Public Health are readily available throughout the school year and are posted in The Vector newsletter. The Student Employment Office and University Careers website post open positions frequently.

Do most students complete a certificate? 

A small number of Nutritional Sciences students complete a certificate while completing their studies. Learn more about certificate programs offered through the School of Public Health and Rackham Graduate School . 

The Graduate Certificate Program in Sustainability is a popular certificate with Nutritional Sciences students who are interested in sustainable food systems. Every cohort also has a few students who complete the Physical Activity & Nutrition (PAN) certificate .

If you are interested in pursuing a certificate, we encourage you to connect with your faculty advisor. 

Why choose the University of Michigan for Nutritional Sciences?

Our faculty, staff and students are engaged, passionate and friendly. We make you and your graduate degree journey a priority. Our faculty have diverse backgrounds and research areas and have many niche and fascinating interests including food insecurity, sustainable food systems, maternal and child nutrition, eating disorders, nutrient metabolism, sleep regulation and nutrition epidemiology. Our Dietetics concentration provides a path for students who wish to become Registered Dietitian (RD) nutritionists. As a member of our Nutritional Sciences community you will be engaged, challenged and fascinated by the opportunities to pursue your passion.

Career Outcomes

Due to the diverse interests of our students, they select a variety of career paths.  View more information about some of their job titles and alumni journeys .

Are there different application systems for MPH, MS and PhD degree programs?

Students applying to the MPH degree will complete their application through the SOPHAS portal. Students applying to the MS or PhD degree will complete their application through the Rackham CollegeNet portal. View more information .

View additional Frequently Asked Questions related to our residential degree programs. 

If you have additional questions please contact Keegan Gramza, [email protected], Student Services Coordinator or Carole Durgy, [email protected], Graduate Program Coordinator. 

Ready to Apply?

Learn more about our application requirements and deadlines and start your application today. If you’re not ready to apply yet, but would like to receive more information about Michigan Public Health and the program(s) you’re interested in, join our prospective student interest list.

For more information about the admissions process, email our Recruitment and Admissions team at [email protected] or schedule an appointment to talk with a member of our Graduate Admissions team.

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Why a Personal Statement is Important

Personal statements are used as part of the application process for many Ph.D. programs, medical schools, fellowship programs, and even, in some cases, jobs.  Personal statements help assess an individual’s commitment to their chosen area of study or work. In addition to strong writing skills, the admissions committee is also looking for something standardized tests and GPAs cannot quantify — your personal story or sense of purpose as it relates to the program or position you are seeking.  While the importance of the statement in terms of the overall application varies from place to place, it is a key factor in the decision-making process.

Consider two goals when writing your essay: persuading the admissions or hiring committee to admit/hire you and demonstrating that you are far more than a GPA or test score. You are an authentic person who would be an asset to the school or to the organization.

The Three-Step Process to Writing a Personal Statement:

1. brainstorming.

In this step you engage in self-reflection, research and the development of ideas for your personal statement.  Allow yourself time to perform this step, and consider the following questions:

  • What events, personal experiences, or difficult situations shaped my character?
  • What experiences were most influential in choosing my career path?
  • What skills, knowledge, and experiences distinguish me from other candidates?
  • What do I find meaningful or purposeful? What is my passion?
  • What are my goals or hopes for my future career?

2. Selecting Your Statement Topic

As you begin Step Two, ask yourself:  “What impression do I hope to create through my statement?” Select a topic that will allow you to synthesize the information from Step One into a well-written document, giving a positive and memorable impression.  Consider some of the following tips as you make your selection:

  • Avoid using gimmicks, but select a topic that grabs the reader’s attention in the first paragraph
  • Provide vivid supporting experiences to your topic
  • Avoid repeating information that can be found elsewhere in your application (such as GPA)
  • Seek feedback from your professors, advisors, and career counselor(s) about the topic

3. Tips for Writing Your Personal Statement

As you write your statement, keep in mind that your goal is to convince admissions or the hiring committee that you are the candidate they want.

  • Start by creating an outline and journaling your first draft of your statement
  • Be yourself – your readers want to learn about who you are as a person
  • Use imagery and clear, vivid prose – describe your life experiences using graphic images
  • Determine if there is a theme to your statement – a common thread.
  • Don’t summarize in your introduction
  • Create curiosity or intrigue in the reader’s mind by raising questions. If there is a theme to your statement, introduce your theme at the beginning.
  • Relate all paragraphs in the body of essay to the introduction; or to your theme
  • Make smooth transitions  to preserve the flow of your essay
  • Link your conclusion to you introduction; focus on your career goals – where do you see yourself in 5/10 years? How will this position help you get there?
  • Discuss the broader implications of your discussion.
  • Redefine a term previously used in the body of your essay, end with a famous quote that is relevant to your argument.
  • Take a break  from a draft of your statement – then come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes
  • Ask someone else to read a draft of your statement and request feedback.  In addition to reading for content and flow, others may spot grammatical errors or typos that you overlooked.

Additional Resources:

  • Sample Personal Statement  (PDF)
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Writing the Personal Statement for Health Professions Applications

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The personal statement gives you the opportunity to present a compelling snapshot of who you are and perhaps why you want to be a doctor. Use your personal statement to say what others can’t. The personal statement can be a tricky genre to master. On the one hand, you want to give the admissions committee a sense of your personality and who you are. On the other hand, you must sound focused and professional, which sounds like it might impede your ability to capture your personality.

But this does not have to be the case. What you need to do is figure out how to say what drives you to want to become a healthcare professional in as specific a way as possible. The more specific you can be, the more the admissions committee will feel as if they have a sense of who you are.

You don’t need gimmicks, jokes, artificial drama, or hyperbole to express who you are or why you would make a good medical student or doctor. All you need are carefully selected details that you can craft into a unique and compelling story that conveys a sense of purpose and motivation.

What Makes a Good Personal Statement?

  • There is no exact template for an effective personal statement. Often, however, strong personal statements combine a concise description of a personal experience with reflection on how this experience either led the writer to pursue medicine or indicates the writer’s character or commitment.
  • Good personal statements often have a strong sense of narrative. This does not mean that they read like short stories, though they can relate a few scenes or anecdotes from your life. They have a strong sense of narrative, rather, in how they convey the writer’s sense of dedication to medicine. Strong personal statements often give readers an idea of how applicants see their experiences as leading to the decision to pursue medicine.

How to Get Started

The personal statement is an exercise in self-reflection. Questions to consider:

  • Who are you?  I am driven to… I have learned to… I believe…
  • What are your most passionate interests or concerns?  What problem(s) most occupy your thinking and your efforts?
  • How did you develop those interests?  (Not just the story, but what drives you.)
  • What errors or regrets have taught you something important about yourself?
  • When does time disappear for you?  What does this tell you about your passions, your values?
  • What ideas, books, courses, events have had a profound impact on you?  How so?
  • To what extent do your current commitments reflect your most strongly held values?
  • When have you changed?  Consider yourself before and after; what does this change mean?
  • How do your interests and who you are relate to your goals in medical school and as a doctor?

Start a “shoebox”; a place to keep random notes for your personal statement; be ready to write at any time. Review these items occasionally; let them tell you more about what you want your personal statement to say. Start writing drafts, experiments; you will know when a paragraph begins to gel.

A Suggested Writing Process

Everyone writes differently, so these are potential strategies rather than rules.

  • Make a list of some of your most defining experiences – extracurricular activities, specific classes, volunteer work, research, hobbies, etc. Try not to include overly personal experiences (breakups, trouble with parents, illnesses in the family, and so on). It’s difficult to write about such things without being sentimental or cliché. You want experiences in which you did something and had to make a choice.
  • From this list, try to select an experience that particularly demonstrates your intellectual curiosity, your dedication to service, your composure under pressure, your leadership ability, or any other personal trait that you think is particularly relevant to your case that you would make a good doctor or medical student.
  • Start writing a draft based on this experience. You want to be specific, but don’t get bogged down with an abundance of anecdotes or minutiae. Try to use your draft to craft a succinct story that demonstrates your character and your motivations.
  • Set the draft aside for some time (a number of days or weeks), and then revisit it with fresh eyes. Be as honest with yourself as you can be: What works in this draft? What doesn’t work? What sounds cliché or unspecific? Would a reader who doesn’t know me at all get a sense of my personal character and dedication?
  • Revise, revise, revise: tighten the structure, add new things to make your point clearer, take away sentences or sections that now seem unnecessary, use the active voice as much as possible, and anything else that needs to be done. If what you have just doesn’t seem to be coming together, do not be afraid to start over.
  • Solicit feedback from a couple of trusted readers and revise again based on the suggestions that you find most useful. Don’t solicit feedback from too many people though – too many responses can be overwhelming.
  • Edit your work for grammatical mistakes, typos, clumsy repetitions, and so on. Make your prose impeccable before you submit your statement. Asking help from other readers can be especially helpful with editing, as sometimes it gets difficult to read your work with fresh eyes.

Things to Do

  • Use the experience that you describe to tell a story of personal progress, particularly progress towards your commitment to medicine.
  • Write with active verbs as much as possible.
  • Strive for concision.
  • Sound humble but also confident.

Things Not to Do – Common Pitfalls

  • Don’t talk in hyperbolic terms about how passionate you are. Everyone applying to medical school can say they are passionate. Instead, show your readers something you have done that indicates your passion.
  • Don’t adopt an overly confessional or sentimental tone. You need to sound professional.
  • Don’t treat the personal statement like a piece of creative writing.
  • Don’t put your resume in narrative form.
  • Don’t use jargon, abbreviations, slang, etc.
  • Don’t use too many qualifiers: very, quite, rather, really, interesting…
  • Don’t write in overly flowery language that you would normally never use.
  • Don’t include famous quotations. If you must quote, use something that shows significant knowledge.
  • Don’t write about yourself in an overly glorifying or overly self-effacing manner.

What to Remember

  • They are read by non-specialists, so write for an intelligent non-medical audience.
  • Actions sometimes speaks louder than words so give examples of experiences rather than describing them.
  • All information must be accurate – don’t pad, but don’t be falsely modest either.
  • The personal statement, in part, serves as a test of your communication skills.  How well you write it is as important as the content.

Writing Resources

  • AAMC: 7 Tips for Writing your AMCAS Personal Statement
  • Graduate Admission Essays: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why , Donald Asher, Ten Speed Press
  • On Writing Well , William Zinsser
  • Elements of Style , Strunk and White, Macmillan
  • Article :  2 Med School Essays that Admissions Officers Loved
  • Guidance for Writing Personal Statements, Work & Activities Section, Secondary Applications

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Dietetics Personal Statement Examples

  • 1 Personal Statement Example Links
  • 2 Career Opportunities
  • 3 UK Admission Requirements
  • 4 UK Earnings Potential For Dietetics
  • 5 Similar Courses in UK
  • 6 UK Curriculum
  • 7 Alumni Network

Personal Statement Example Links

  • Personal Statement Example 1
  • Personal Statement Example 2
  • Personal Statement Example 3
  • Personal Statement Example 4
  • Personal Statement Example 5

Ever been inspired by the role diet plays in promoting health and preventing disease? Fascinated by the idea of using food and nutrition to manage health conditions and enhance well-being?

If so, a career in Dietetics could be your perfect journey. This scientifically rigorous field equips you with the knowledge and skills to translate complex nutrition science into practical dietary advice.

A dietetics course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to become a dietitian. You will learn about nutrition and how to develop healthy eating plans for individuals and groups. You will also learn about the science of food, food safety, and the principles of food service management. You will also learn how to assess and monitor the nutritional status of individuals and groups.

In addition to the theoretical aspects of dietetics, you will also gain practical experience. You will learn how to plan, prepare, and serve meals, as well as how to assess the nutritional needs of individuals and groups. You will also learn how to develop nutrition education programs.

👍 When writing a personal statement : Highlight your passion for the course, demonstrating your understanding of it. Use relevant personal experiences, coursework, or work history to showcase how these have fostered your interest and readiness for the course.

Career Opportunities

A degree in dietetics can lead to a variety of career paths in the health and nutrition field. Dietitians are trained to develop, implement, and monitor nutrition plans for individuals and groups.

1. Clinical Dietitian: Clinical dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy to individuals in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient clinics. They assess patients’ nutritional needs, develop nutrition plans, and monitor their progress.

2. Food Service Manager: Food service managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of food service establishments, such as restaurants, cafeterias, and catering companies. They plan menus, order supplies, and manage staff.

3. Nutrition Educator: Nutrition educators provide nutrition information to the public through classes, seminars, and other educational programs. They may also work with health care providers to develop nutrition plans for their patients.

4. Nutrition Consultant: Nutrition consultants provide nutrition advice to clients in the private sector. They may work with individuals, families, or organisations to develop nutrition plans and provide nutrition education.

5. Public Health Nutritionist: Public health nutritionists work in the public health sector to promote healthy eating habits and nutrition education. They may work in schools, community health centers, or other public health organisations.

6. Research Dietitian: Research dietitians conduct research on nutrition and health-related topics. They may work in universities, research institutes, government agencies, or the food industry, designing and conducting experiments, analysing data, and publishing their findings to advance knowledge in the field of nutrition.

UK Admission Requirements

In order to be accepted into a university course in Dietetics, applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

Grades: Applicants must have achieved a minimum of a 2:1 in an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, such as Nutrition, Food Science, or Health Sciences.

Prerequisites: Applicants must have a good understanding of the principles of nutrition and food science, as well as a basic knowledge of biochemistry and physiology.

Other Entry Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience in the field of dietetics, nutrition, or health sciences.

These entry requirements are generally similar to other courses in the field of nutrition and dietetics, although some courses may require a higher grade than a 2:1 in the relevant degree, or may require additional qualifications such as a Master’s degree.

UK Earnings Potential For Dietetics

The average earnings for someone with a degree in dietetics depend on the country and region of employment. In the UK, the average salary for a dietitian is £30,000 to £40,000 per year. Dietitians working in the NHS may receive a higher salary, as well as additional benefits such as bonuses and pension contributions.

In terms of job market trends, the demand for dietitians is expected to grow over the next few years. This is due to the increasing importance of nutrition in healthcare and the need for qualified professionals to provide advice and support to patients. Additionally, the rise of plant-based diets and the growing awareness of food-related health issues are expected to drive demand for dietitians in the future.

Similar Courses in UK

Other university courses related to Dietetics include Nutrition, Food Science, and Food Technology.

  • Nutrition focuses on the science of the nutrients and dietary components that are necessary for human health. It looks at the role of food in the body and how it can be used to prevent and treat diseases. It also looks at the social and cultural aspects of food, such as how food choices are affected by cultural and religious beliefs.
  • Food Science is a multidisciplinary field that combines chemistry, biology, and engineering to study the physical, chemical, and biological properties of food and its ingredients. It looks at how food is produced, processed, packaged, and stored, and how it can be used to create safe and nutritious products.
  • Food Technology is a field of study that focuses on the development, production, and marketing of food products. It looks at the various processes involved in food production, such as processing, packaging, storage, and distribution. It also looks at the safety and quality of food products, as well as the marketing of food products.

The key difference between Dietetics and these other courses is that Dietetics focuses on the use of food and nutrition to promote health and prevent disease, while the other courses focus more on the production, processing, and marketing of food products.

UK Curriculum

The key topics and modules covered in the University course Dietetics include:

  • Nutrition Science: This module covers the fundamentals of nutrition science, including the chemical, physiological and metabolic processes involved in nutrition. It also covers the principles of nutrition and its role in health and disease.
  • Food Science: This module covers the scientific principles of food production, storage, and preparation. It also covers food safety and hygiene, as well as food composition and its role in health.
  • Clinical Dietetics: This module covers the principles of clinical dietetics, including the assessment and management of nutrition-related health problems. It also covers the use of nutrition in the management of chronic diseases.
  • Food Service Management: This module covers the principles of food service management, including menu planning, food production and service, and nutrition education.
  • Research Methods: This module covers the principles of research methods and data analysis, including the design and implementation of research projects.
  • Public Health Nutrition: This module covers the principles of public health nutrition, including the assessment and management of nutrition-related health problems in populations.

In addition to the theoretical aspects of the course, there is also a significant practical component. This includes hands-on experience in food preparation and service, as well as nutrition education and research projects. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in supervised clinical placements, which provide the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the course.

Alumni Network

Notable alumni from the course of Dietetics include Dr. Joanne Slavin, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Slavin is a widely respected expert in the field of nutrition and has made significant contributions to the field through her research and advocacy.

She has published numerous studies on the role of dietary fiber in health, and has been a leader in the development of dietary guidelines for Americans. She is also a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board and has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and the US Department of Agriculture.

Alumni events and networking opportunities for Dietetics alumni include the annual Dietetics Alumni Reunion hosted by the University of Minnesota. This event provides alumni with the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and faculty, to learn about the latest developments in the field, and to network with other professionals in the field.

Additionally, the University of Minnesota offers a Dietetics Alumni Association, which provides members with access to exclusive events, resources, and networking opportunities.

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Personalised nutrition and health

Food for thought, click here to read other articles in this collection.

  • Related content
  • Peer review
  • Jose M Ordovas , professor 1 2 3 ,
  • Lynnette R Ferguson , professor 4 ,
  • E Shyong Tai , professor 5 ,
  • John C Mathers , professor 6
  • 1 JM-USDA-HNRCA at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
  • 2 Centro Nacional Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
  • 3 IMDEA Food Institute, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
  • 4 Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 5 National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • 6 Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
  • Correspondence to: J M Ordovas jose.ordovas{at}tufts.edu

Jose Ordovas and colleagues consider that nutrition interventions tailored to individual characteristics and behaviours have promise but more work is needed before they can deliver

Dietary factors are well recognised contributors to common diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer. 1 2 3 Despite the known link between dietary patterns and disease, interventions to alter dietary habits and to improve public health and wellbeing have had limited impact. Personalisation of interventions may be more effective in changing behaviour 4 that will affect health outcomes. 5 In this article we consider the evidence for personalised nutrition.

What is personalised nutrition and what is it used for?

There is no agreed definition of personalised nutrition. For the purposes of this review, we define it as an approach that uses information on individual characteristics to develop targeted nutritional advice, products, or services. Gibney et al 6 describe it as an approach that “assists individuals in achieving a lasting dietary behaviour change that is beneficial for health.” Personalised nutrition partially overlaps with related terms such as precision nutrition, nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics, nutritional genomics, etc ( box 1 ).

Descriptors and definitions

In common with other scientific fields in their early development, multiple concepts and descriptors are used in personalised nutrition, sometimes without rigorous definition. In addition to the term personalised nutrition, many other terms are used—for example, precision nutrition, stratified nutrition, tailored nutrition, and individually tailored nutrition. We have attempted to group the descriptors as follows:

• Stratified and tailored nutrition are similar (if not synonymous). These approaches attempt to group individuals with shared characteristics and to deliver nutritional intervention/advice that is suited to each group

• Personalised nutrition and individually tailored nutrition mean similar things and go a step further by attempting to deliver nutritional intervention/advice suited to each individual

• Precision nutrition is the most ambitious of the descriptors. It suggests that it is possible to have sufficient quantitative understanding about the complex relationships between an individual, his/her food consumption, and his/her phenotype (including health) to offer nutritional intervention/advice, which is known to be individually beneficial. The degree of scientific certainty required for precision nutrition is much greater than that required for the other approaches

• Nutrigenetics is an aspect of personalised nutrition that studies the different phenotypic responses (ie, weight, blood pressure, plasma cholesterol, or glucose levels) to a specific diet (ie, low fat or Mediterranean diets), depending on the genotype of the individual

• Nutrigenomics involves the characterisation of all gene products affected by nutrients and their metabolic consequences

• Exposome is the collection of environmental factors, such as stress, physical activity and diet, to which an individual is exposed and which may affect health

As one moves from stratified to personalised to precision nutrition, it becomes necessary to apply more and more dimensions or characteristics to achieve the desired goal. For example, stratification could be undertaken using one, or a few, dimensions such as age, gender, or health status. In contrast, given the complexity of relationships between individual diet and phenotype, deployment of a wide range of dimensions/characteristics, perhaps including “big data” approaches, would be necessary to achieve the goal of precision nutrition. An exception to this broad generalisation is the management of inborn errors of metabolism such as phenylketonuria, where “precision nutrition” can be achieved using information on a single characteristic—that is, genotype.

• Epigenomics is a branch of genomics concerned with the epigenetic changes (methylation, histone modification, microRNAs) that modify the expression and function of the genetic material of an organism

• Metabolomics is the scientific study and analysis of the metabolites (usually restricted to small molecules, ie, <900 daltons) produced by a cell, tissue, or organism

• Microbiomics is the study of the microbiome, the totality of microbes in specific environments (ie, the human gut)

The overall goal of personalised nutrition is to preserve or increase health using genetic, phenotypic, medical, nutritional, and other relevant information about individuals to deliver more specific healthy eating guidance and other nutritional products and services (table 1). Personalised nutrition is equally applicable to patients and to healthy people who may or may not have enhanced genetic susceptibilities to specific diseases.

Personalised nutrition can be applied in two broad areas: firstly, for the dietary management of people with specific diseases or who need special nutritional support—for example, in pregnancy or old age, and, secondly, for the development of more effective interventions for improving public health. It has traditionally focused on maximising the benefits and reducing the adverse effects of dietary changes for the individual. However, this focus on the individual may have limited impact on populations. To have a wider impact, it must be deployed at a scale and in a way that reduces (rather than increases) health disparities. Individuals may also wish to use personalised nutrition to achieve personal goals/ambitions that are less directly related to health—for example, to deal with preferences for, and dislikes of, specific foods, to attempt to achieve a desired body size or shape, or for competitive sports. 7

What are the conceptual bases for personalised nutrition?

Personalised nutrition is based on the idea that individualising nutritional advice, products, or services will be more effective than more generic approaches.

Personalisation can be based on:

• Biological evidence of differential responses to foods/nutrients dependent on genotypic or phenotypic characteristics

• Analysis of current behaviour, preferences, barriers, and objectives and subsequent delivery of interventions, which motivate and enable each person to make appropriate changes to his or her eating pattern.

Personalisation based on biological characteristics of the individual

Differences in the response of people to dietary components have been well documented for almost a century. 8 9 10 This provides the basis, and motivation, for developing personalised nutrition strategies. The trend towards personalisation is the result of: firstly, nutrition research that provides a better understanding of how diet affects health; secondly, new technology that enables better and continuous measurements of markers of individual health and fitness; and thirdly, new analytical tools that interpret this flow of data and transform it into user friendly practical information. Moreover, personal nutrition integrates with the change in bioscience and public health programmes towards preventing rather than mitigating existing disease. Response to food is variable and has multiple forms. These include differential responses in plasma cholesterol concentration to dietary saturated fat intake, food allergies or intolerances (eg, lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity), or more severe forms such as phenylketonuria and other inborn errors of metabolism. Moreover, personalised nutritional advice may be appropriate for some key factors, such as age (teenager, elderly, child, adult), stage of life (pregnant, lactating, etc), sex, BMI, disease or health status, ethnicity, and cultural or religious backgrounds that dictate particular diets

Nutrigenetics has been defined as “the discipline that studies the different phenotypic response to diet depending on the genotype of each individual.” 11 It is a classic example of an attempt to characterise the response of an individual to a dietary intervention based on genetic factors. To a large extent, this is based on accumulating evidence of the phenotypic consequences of interactions between interindividual differences in genetic make up and nutrition. 12 Nutrigenetics has evolved from using a unique single nucleotide polymorphism at a candidate gene locus to examine interaction with a specific nutrient (eg, saturated fat) to a more comprehensive whole genome approach analysing interactions with dietary patterns. 13

More recently, new technology has enabled multiple endogenous and exogenous factors to be studied at the same time and used to predict the response to intervention. These include epigenomics, metabolomics, microbiomics ( box 1 ), and the individual's environment, 14 also known as the exposome. 15 The ability to measure “everything that matters” is becoming a reality with the increasing availability of fitness trackers, mobile apps, and other devices. These enable individuals to monitor continuously multiple health related factors, such as physical activity, sleep, and vital signs—for example, blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels. The usefulness of these devices remains controversial. 16 17 However, in theory, such information could be used to develop algorithms that, in combination with genetic and other biological information, may provide a sound basis for personalised recommendations.

Potentially just as important is the belief that easy access to indices of health provided frequently, and in real time, will be a driver for beneficial, and sustained behaviour change. Thus, an individual will acquire data on his/her genotype and multiple phenotypic characteristics on which the personalised nutrition is based. Periodic physiological and biochemical analyses and microbiome tests will enable tracking of their health metrics in response to dietary, and other personalised, behavioural changes in real time. Relatively little has been published on the development and validation of the algorithms for personalised nutrition. The Food4Me Study published algorithms to integrate information based on current diet, phenotypic characteristics, and genotypic characteristics. 18 However, other approaches—for example, using machine-learning 19 or artificial intelligence, 20 might offer additional advantages.

For example, Zeevi et al 21 used the connection between a raised concentration of postprandial blood glucose and the risk of type 2 diabetes risk. They monitored glucose concentrations in 800 people continuously for 1 week. They then used the variability in glycaemic response to identical test meals to devise a machine-learning algorithm that integrated blood parameters, dietary habits, anthropometrics, physical activity, and gut microbiota to predict an individual's postprandial glycaemic response to real meals. The predictive algorithm was validated in an independent cohort (n=100). These investigators conducted a small randomised controlled dietary intervention study that suggested that personalised diets may successfully modify raised postprandial blood glucose.

The potential role of microbiome based information in developing personalised nutrition has been emphasised in more recent work from the same group. They used a small intervention study to show that an individual’s glycaemic response to a test meal can be predicted from microbiome data before the intervention. 22 These results highlight the importance of information about individual people in understanding the effects of dietary factors on metabolism and health. The results suggest that interindividual differences in responses to dietary challenges may be particularly informative, but we need evidence from larger scale studies to know whether such personalised interventions based on a “challenge test” offer significant advantages.

This approach was illustrated more recently by Price et al. 23 They collected personal data, including whole genome sequences, clinical tests, blood metabolome and proteome, physical activity, and fecal microbiome, on three occasions over 9 months from 108 people. They used these data to generate correlation networks that disclosed communities of related analytes associated with physiology and disease. They also used some of the personal data (genotype and clinical markers) to implement behavioural coaching to help participants to improve biomarkers of health. This study showed, firstly, that some highly motivated people are willing to collect personal data over extended periods; secondly, that more information can help to confirm existing knowledge about the connectedness of human physiology and to expose new connections; and, thirdly, with intense measurement in highly motivated people, “personalised coaching” may help to change behaviour. However, it is not clear how much of the detailed measurement undertaken in the study was essential in developing the “personalised coaching.” As the participants were self-selected, it is unclear whether this approach would be acceptable to larger populations.

Personalisation based on analysis of current behaviour, preferences, barriers, and objectives

Most researchers, and other stakeholders in personalised nutrition, have focused on the capture of genotypic or phenotypic characteristics. The implicit assumption is that, the more we can measure, the more effective will be the outcomes of personalisation. 24 There is increasing realisation that, unlike with medication, dietary changes require individuals to make daily, sometimes hourly, choices. The adoption of these lifestyle changes (including but not limited to changes in dietary patterns) is highly dependent on effective collaboration with participants who are being helped to take responsibility for their behaviour, and, ultimately, health. Increasing technology is available that can motivate healthy eating. However, such applications usually adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach that is biased towards specific cultures or population subgroups. Evidence suggests that it is possible to facilitate a change in behaviour using genetic testing or personalised advice as the catalysts. 25 26 More emphasis is needed to develop behavioural approaches that will best motivate particular individual and cultural groups.

There may be benefits in moving from a decision framework based on health professionals’ perspectives of effectiveness to one of shared decision making. An intervention based on shared decision making between the provider and the recipient becomes personalised and may increase acceptance and adherence. In this regard, the Food4Me Study stands out. It was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving >1600 participants from seven European countries, which showed that personalised nutrition was more effective than a conventional one-size-fits-all approach as control ( box 2 ). 27 A limitation of the study is that no information is available on outcomes beyond 6 months. However, findings from an earlier systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that, if changes are apparent at 6 months, they are likely to be sustained for at least a year. 28

  • Food4Me Study

The Food4Me Study 27 is the largest randomised controlled trial to have investigated the efficacy of personalised nutrition.

The study asked two key questions:

Is personalised nutrition more effective in changing diet than a conventional one-size-fits-all approach?

Does the basis used for personalisation matter? (With particular interest in the benefit of personalisation based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics)

After 6 months, the answer was clear. Personalisation of dietary advice assisted and/or motivated consumers to eat a healthier diet and follow a healthier lifestyle (in comparison with “impersonal” (conventional) dietary advice). The Healthy Eating Index was used as the global measure of “healthfulness” of eating patterns and change was measured after 3 and 6 months.

Personalisation based on analysis of current diet was more effective in assisting and/or motivating study participants to make, and to sustain, appropriate healthy changes to their usual (habitual) diet and lifestyle. However, there was no evidence of any additional benefit from using more sophisticated, and expensive, bases for personalisation, such as phenotypic and genotypic information.

The Food4Me Study was implemented as an internet based intervention to emulate commercial personalised nutrition aids. The intervention was delivered to >1600 adults in seven European countries and used several new approaches to collection and validation of data and biological samples. 47 58 This study provides a model for the use of the internet in delivering personalised interventions. It demonstrates the opportunities to scale up and to make potentially significant cost effective improvements in public health.

None the less, many questions remain, and the conceptual framework underpinning this type of personalisation is poorly defined.

Implementation challenges

Personalised nutrition has raised expectations similar to the excitement that has surrounded other scientific developments in their early stages. Scientists working in this area have expressed concerns about overpromising, 29 30 individually 31 32 as well as through institutional guidelines and statements. 33 34 35 36 37 38 Highest expectations arise from the suggestion that genetic information might be used to define personalised dietary recommendations. For example, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that “nutritional genomics provides insight into how diet and genotype interactions affect phenotype. The practical application of nutritional genomics for complex chronic disease is an emerging science and the use of nutrigenetic testing to provide dietary advice is not ready for routine dietetics practice.” The consensus is that much research is needed before personalised nutrition can deliver the expected benefits. 36

Gaps in the evidence base Firstly, most studies, many of which are nutrigenetic, have used retrospective or observational approaches. Those studies that have used interventions are small and have focused on intermediate biomarkers. Only a few reports have studied gene-diet interactions in large, randomised, long term dietary intervention studies with clinical events as endpoints. 39 40 Stronger evidence for causality may come from well designed dietary RCTs that use prospective genotyping when randomising participants to treatments, as in the FINGEN Study 41 ( box 3 ). The latter study investigated the effects of supplementation with fish oil on cardiovascular risk markers. For the design and implementation of an RCT, such an approach is much less complex than trials involving whole foods or which attempt to change eating patterns. Randomised controlled trials are essential to providing proof of concept and to giving scientific credibility to the concept of personalised nutrition. We envisage that ethical providers will build delivery systems in which elements of the system are evidence based but for which it would be difficult or impossible to test the whole system with an RCT.

Personalised nutrition

Interindividual variability in response to dietary factors is a real phenomenon

Some studies have shown that personalisation results in greater improvements in diet than universal approaches

Personalisation may foster sustained change in behaviour

The personalised nutrition approach mirrors the rise in personalised, or precision, medicine, which is likely to drive scientific developments beneficial for personalised nutrition, and, therefore, public health

Scientific evidence for personalised nutrition is mostly based on observational studies with a low level of reproducibility

The theoretical basis for personalised nutrition is underdeveloped

The factors responsible for interindividual differences in response to dietary factors, their persistence over time within the same individual, and their heritability are mostly unknown 59

There are few well-designed randomised controlled trial that demonstrate the efficacy and safety of personalised nutrition

Most commercial offerings in the personalised nutrition area are based on direct to consumer tests that are unregulated and have limited published evidence of benefit

Applying evidence for populations to individuals Most of our evidence in populations is probabilistic. The personalised nutrition approach wants to use this evidence for individuals. To take a simple example, there is evidence that an interaction between a variant in APOA2 and intake of saturated fatty acids has an effect on obesity and, by extrapolation, on the risk of cardiovascular disease. 42 43 Lowering saturated fatty acid intake in those carrying this variant would be expected to lower obesity and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease in populations. However, for individuals, there is no guarantee of any benefit. This is because, in common with most health outcomes, the risk of cardiovascular disease is multifactorial and includes the effects of stochastic factors. Available evidence allows us to predict mean outcomes from a given intervention and genotype, but it is impossible to predict health outcomes for individuals. Thus, the current interest is in studies that measure multiple parameters at the same time. Alternatively, others have advocated single subject studies in personalised nutrition. 44 Single subject, or n-of-1, trials can potentially assess the usefulness of personalised interventions by integrating emerging technology and biomarkers. 45 Analytical approaches to n-of-1 studies are being developed in related fields—for example, health psychology, and may be suitable for use in personalised nutrition. 46

Effect on health disparities The use of most new technology (such as n-of-1 trials) for predicting and measuring the response to specific dietary changes may be prohibitively expensive if deployed at scale. 5 This may increase health disparities. The challenge for research will be to define the minimum set of measurements/biomarkers that predicts individual response to personalised nutrition.

Encouraging shared decision making Face-to-face consultations with a health professional or lifestyle coach might enable shared decision making, but is relatively expensive. In the Food4Me Study, personalisation was implemented by nutrition researchers 5 27 47 using decision trees. This guided the personalised advice and ensured that it was standardised across study sites. This process could be used to build algorithms that “tailor” the advice/support offered to an individual, based on preferences, barriers, ambitions, etc. Such algorithms can also incorporate techniques for behaviour change to help maximise the (health) benefit. 48 These algorithms could be automated and could operate in “real time” using the internet. They provide an opportunity for large scale, cost effective shared decision making that may minimise possible increases in health disparities.

Is personalised nutrition more effective than alternative approaches?

Despite studies supporting personalised nutrition, most evidence has come from observational studies with risk factors as outcomes, rather than from RCTs using clinical end points.

There are two key related questions. Firstly, can personalised nutrition produce greater, more appropriate and sustained changes in behaviour than conventional approaches? Secondly, do these changes result in better health and wellbeing?

We have limited information that the answer to the first of these questions is yes. 27 49 However, evidence for the usefulness of communicating genetic risks of a disease itself on risk-reducing health behaviour is weak. 50 A recent systematic review studied genetic testing and lifestyle behaviour change. It concluded that behaviour change can be facilitated using genetic testing as the catalyst. The authors argued that to promote such change the theory of planned behaviour should be deployed when communicating the results of genetic testing. 26

The second question remains unanswered. No personalised nutrition study has been carried out at a large scale, in an appropriate population group and over a sufficiently long time. For this reason, and because of the importance of lifestyle change for large sections of the population, other investigators advocate a universal, rather than targeted, approach to lifestyle intervention for disease prevention and treatment. 51 The logistical complexity, practical challenges, and financial costs of nutrition intervention studies with disease risk as outcomes are large and likely to be increased in personalised nutrition interventions. Thus further testing will probably use outcomes such as changes in diet, adiposity, or established biomarkers of disease such as blood pressure, HbA 1c , or cognitive function. In addition, there are major opportunities to test the usefulness of personalised nutrition in the response to disease management and treatment. This would be cost effective and logistically feasible.

Personalised nutrition in the marketplace

The potential market for personalised nutrition is huge. Firstly: as indicated above, it applies to both diseased and healthy people; secondly, eating is a daily activity, and thus opportunities for personalisation are continuous; thirdly, through personalisation a person may feel able to enhance or maintain health. Most commercial personalised nutrition interventions are provided directly to the consumer through the internet. The reliability of the evidence used by such companies is uncertain. 52 53 The business has developed without regulatory oversight, defined standards, and consumer protection. 54 Moreover, there are no educational resources or guidelines for how the outcomes of research into personalised nutrition should be implemented. To protect the public, advice should be based on robust scientific evidence. A framework for testing evidence for the scientific validity of nutrigenetic knowledge has been published. 38 It is intended to be used for developing transparent and scientifically sound advice to the public founded on nutrigenetic tests. This is based on the assumption that scientifically valid, properly regulated information delivered through the internet will be less expensive and more pervasive and may help to reduce health inequalities.

Suggestions for the future

Advancement of personalised nutrition will be facilitated by a number of factors. Firstly, the development of a strong theoretical basis, including identification of the most important individual characteristics on which to base personalisation. Secondly, the evidence for efficacy and cost effectiveness from well designed intervention studies. Thirdly, the introduction of a regulatory framework designed to protect the public and to give confidence to health professionals and policy makers. This will require a substantial increase in the scientific evidence. This implies:

• More robust study designs ranging from RCTs enrolling participants based on preselected genotypes, to n-of-1 trials and aggregated n-of-1 trials. Such research will benefit from multidisciplinary research teams, comprising, for example, behavioural psychologists, computer scientists, biomedical scientists, and nutritionists.

• Integration of other “omics” to provide greater mechanistic interpretation of the evidence. This is likely to include emphasis on epigenomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics. In this respect, proof of principle of the role of the microbiome in shaping interindividual variability in response to diet has been established.

A first step in developing guidelines for using genotype based advice in personalised nutrition has been proposed by the Food4Me consortium. 38 It will be important for research and regulatory communities to evaluate the proposed guidelines. This may lead to the development of more generic guidelines that could be valuable for national (and international) regulators. However, given the diversity of approaches to personalised nutrition, it is likely to be difficult to agree on the principles for such generic guidelines. Experience shows that commercial providers are keen to proceed before the scientific evidence is established. This would be unimportant if the commercial offerings were harmless. However, inappropriate dietary change may harm the consumer’s health and finances. It will be important to find ways of curbing the more extravagant claims, which are likely to tarnish the emerging science of personalised nutrition.

Key messages

Personalised nutrition uses information on individual characteristics to develop targeted nutritional advice, products, or services to assist people to achieve a lasting dietary change in behaviour that is beneficial for health

Personalised nutrition is based on the concept that individualised nutritional advice, products, or services will be more effective than more traditional generic approaches

This personalisation may be based on biological evidence of differential responses to foods/nutrients dependent on genotypic or phenotypic characteristics, and/or based on current behaviour, preferences, barriers and objectives

Most of the available evidence in support of personalised nutrition has come from observational studies with risk factors as outcomes, rather than from randomised controlled trials using clinical end points

The overall consensus is that much research and regulation is required before personalised nutrition can deliver the expected benefits

Different levels of recommendation for women (not pregnant or lactating)

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Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare the following interests: JMO is part of Habit advisory board.

Provenance and peer review: Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

This article is one of a series commissioned by The BMJ . Open access fees for the series were funded by SwissRe, which had no input into the commissioning or peer review of the articles. The BMJ thanks the series advisers, Nita Forouhi and Dariush Mozaffarian, for valuable advice and guiding selection of topics in the series.

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ .

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personal statement for nutrition and health

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MS Nutrition Personal Statement Samples

Updated: Jan 16

MS Nutrition Personal Statement Examples

Born in our native Argentina, my family moved to the USA when I was six. Thus, while I remember Argentina well and we have been back to visit, I was raised in the Bronx and New York City will always be my home. Growing up inspired by both of my cultures, I developed a special passion for health and wellness. After earning my undergraduate degree in Nutrition Science, I knew I wanted to deepen my understanding of how nutrition can impact individuals and society. That’s why I am thrilled to apply to the master’s program in Human Nutrition at your esteemed institution. I am eager to learn from renowned faculty, collaborate with fellow students and professionals, and further my career in the field of nutrition.

As a young adult, I have always been interested in human nutrition and the importance of a healthy diet in our daily lives. Now, with my sights set on pursuing a master’s degree in human nutrition, I am excited to further expand my knowledge in this field. Although English is the language I speak best, I am also proficient in Spanish, and I aim to use both languages to become a registered dietician and life coach. With this dual skill set, I hope to empower individuals to lead healthier, happier lives. I hope to someday have my own practice, helping people from many levels of society who face unique challenges to their physical health and well-being that can be dealt with successfully through diet and healthy lifestyle choices.

MS Nutrition Personal Statement Samples

My passion for educating people on food stems from a desire to help people make healthier choices in their lives. My goal as an applicant to the MS Program in Human Nutrition is to learn as much as possible about the science of food and how it affects the human body. I want to help others understand how to read labels, what brands to buy, and how to find affordable ways to eat healthier. Education is the key to building a healthier society, and I look forward to working with like-minded individuals in the program. I see the education that we are giving to our children as lax because most of our children never learn the importance of healthy eating, eventually, they get sick. Food is how we must show appreciation for our bodies and our experiences.

I am deeply passionate about nutrition and its role in promoting health and preventing disease. As someone who is aware of the harmful substances found in our everyday food, I believe that it’s up to us to make changes in our diets to help improve our health and the health of our community. That’s why I’m interested in pursuing a master’s degree in human nutrition, so I can learn how to help others make informed decisions about their health and wellness.

I have always been passionate about promoting health and wellness, and an MS Program in Human Nutrition is the next step toward achieving my career goals. My dream is to become a Registered Dietitian and life coach, with the aim of helping people of all ages and backgrounds achieve optimal physical, mental, and spiritual health. By enrolling in this program, I am taking a crucial step towards gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this field.

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Award-winning ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen dies at 72

Several colleagues share what Chris Mortensen represented at ESPN after he died Sunday morning at 72. (2:23)

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Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for more than three decades, died Sunday morning at the age of 72, his family announced.

Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and was a regular contributor to the network's NFL shows and "SportsCenter." He was a regular news breaker for ESPN, including the news in 2016 that quarterback Peyton Manning was retiring from the NFL.

In 2016, he received the Pro Football Writers of America's Dick McCann Award and was honored during the Pro Football Hall of Fame's enshrinement ceremony in August that year.

"Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate," Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, said in a statement. "He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones."

ESPN's Adam Schefter, a longtime colleague of Mortensen's on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," said on social media : "An absolutely devastating day. Mort was one of the greatest reporters in sports history, and an even better man. Sincerest condolences to his family, and all who knew and loved him. So many did. Mort was the very best. He will be forever missed and remembered."

Mortensen, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in January 2016, stepped away from his role at ESPN last year "to focus on my health, family and faith," he said.

"Mort helped set the journalism standard in the early days of ESPN. His credibility, attention to detail and reporting skills catapulted our news and information to a new level," Norby Williamson, executive editor and head of studio production for ESPN, said in a statement. "More importantly, he was a great teammate and human being. He personified care and respect for people which became the culture of ESPN."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Mortensen's death was a "sad day for everyone in the NFL."

"I admired how hard Chris worked to become one of the most influential and revered reporters in sports," Goodell said in a statement. "He earned our respect and that of many others with his relentless pursuit of news but also with the kindness he extended to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by many of us in the league who were fortunate to know him well beyond the stories he broke each Sunday.

"We send our condolences to his family, his colleagues and the many people Chris touched throughout his well-lived life."

Manning, in a post to Instagram, wrote that he was "heartbroken" by the news of Mortensen's death.

"We lost a true legend," Manning said in his post . "Mort was the best in the business and I cherished our friendship. I trusted him with my announcement to sign with the Broncos and with the news of my retirement. I will miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with Micki & his family. Rest in peace, Mort."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peyton Manning (@peytonmanning)

Before coming to ESPN, Mortensen wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (1983-1990), covering the Falcons, the Braves and the NFL, and he won the George Polk Award in 1987 for his reporting. He also was one of the first writers hired by editor Frank Deford at the sports daily The National, working there from 1989 to 1990 before coming to ESPN.

"I join the immeasurable number of hearts across the nation, in journalism and the sports community, as we mourn Chris Mortensen," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. "I'm grateful to have had the privilege of knowing Chris through his incredible work beginning at his days at the Atlanta Journal Constitution and like so many, being blessed by his professional excellence and personal grace through the many years that have followed. I considered Chris a personal hero of my mine and it is truly hard to imagine sports journalism without him.

"His ability to take on life's obstacles with grit and determination was always truly inspiring and his enormous impact on so many, me included, will live on through this work and unwavering friendships. I send my deepest condolences to Chris' family and friends, and pray they find peace in the honorable legacy and positive influence that Chris leaves behind."

Mortensen also was a columnist for The Sporting News, a contributor to Sport magazine and a consultant with CBS Sports' "NFL Today" (1990).

"Chris will forever be part of the NFL family. Loved by so many, he was a brilliant voice for the game and as passionate and talented as there has ever been," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement . "He will be deeply missed and we're grateful for the special memories and legacy Chris leaves us."

Mortensen, who began his journalism career at the South Bay (California) Daily Breeze in 1969, won the National Headliner Award for investigative reporting in all categories in 1978. He received 18 awards in journalism and was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes in his career.

He also was the author of the book "Playing for Keeps: How One Man Stopped the Mob from Sinking its Hooks into Pro Football."

Mortensen, a native of Torrance, California, was born Nov. 7, 1951. He attended El Camino College before serving two years in the Army.

He is survived by his wife, Micki, and son, Alex.

Miss USA's resignation letter accuses the organization of toxic work culture

The Miss USA who gave up her crown and title this week accused the pageant’s CEO of failing to take an incident of sexual harassment seriously and creating a toxic work environment, according to a copy of her resignation letter obtained Thursday by NBC News.

“There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment,” Noelia Voigt wrote in the letter. “This started soon after winning the title of Miss USA 2023.”

Voigt announced Monday on Instagram that she was relinquishing her crown, citing her mental health. Two days later, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, announced she was also stepping down in a statement that said her “personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”

Fans who were shocked by the unprecedented resignations noticed that the first letter in every sentence of Voigt’s online statement spelled out “ I am silenced .”

UmaSofia Srivastava and Noelia Voigt,

In her resignation letter, Voigt said that Miss USA CEO and President Laylah Rose consistently failed to communicate and that when she did, she was “often cold and unnecessarily aggressive.”

“It’s incredibly jarring to be trying to do my job and constantly be threatened with disciplinary action, including taking away my salary, for things that were never discussed with me and, if it related to a public-facing post for example, were causing no issue other than not meeting her personal preference,” Voigt wrote.

Representatives for the Miss USA organization did not immediately respond to request for comment Thursday evening.

Rose said in a statement Wednesday that “the well-being of all individuals associated with Miss USA is my top priority.”

“All along, my personal goal as the head of this organization has been to inspire women to always create new dreams, have the courage to explore it all, and continue to preserve integrity along the way. I hold myself to these same high standards and I take these allegations seriously,” she said.

Voigt included in her letter details about an alleged incident of sexual harassment at a Christmas event in Florida. She wrote that she was left alone in a car with a man who “made several inappropriate statements to me about his desire to enter into a relationship with me.”

Voigt said that when Rose was made aware of the situation, she told Voigt, “We cannot prevent people saying things to you at public appearances, it is, unfortunately, part of the role you’re in as a public figure.” 

Rose is also accused in the letter of badmouthing Voigt to others in the organization and painting her as “uninterested” in her job.

“I have heard that comments have ranged from her describing me as difficult to work with for various untrue reasons, to weaponizing my mental health struggles brought on by my experience as Miss USA 2023, calling me ‘mentally ill’ in a derogatory way, to expressing that she hoped I would get hit in the face by a baseball at an event where I would throw out the first pitch at a baseball game,” Voigt wrote in her letter.

Despite the environment, Voigt said, she was committed to the Miss USA brand, but her mental and physical health continued to erode.

“I am now diagnosed with Anxiety and have to take two medications daily to manage the symptoms due to consistently being on edge, worrying about what Laylah will pop up with and choose to harass me about daily,” the letter said.

She wrote that she had flare-ups of a pre-existing condition that is worsened by stress and that she is experiencing “heart palpitations, full body shakes, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, loss of sleep, loss of hair, and more.”

Voigt cited a toxic work environment at Miss USA that she said is unsafe for future Miss Universe Organization title holders.

“Every statement you have ever put out about MUO’s morals and integrity directly contradicts what is happening within the USA organization,” the letter said.

Claudia Michelle, a former social media manager who said she submitted her resignation last week, echoed similar sentiments about Miss USA management in an interview with NBC News on Thursday.

“Leaders in women’s empowerment organizations need to be held accountable,” Michelle said. “How do you not take the mental health of the face of your brand seriously?”

Michelle said she was aware that Voigt had raised concerns over her safety and traveling alone and that she began to travel more with Miss USA in March and April.

Michelle said that Rose was inconsistent with her communication and that the organization’s management was unprofessional.

Brittany Lane is a booker for NBC News.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Mental Health Week:

“Today, we mark the beginning of  Mental Health Week , a time to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and taking frequent, regular, and quality care. Because mental health is health. 

“We’re making sure that all Canadians have access to the mental health care they need, no matter where they live or what they do. That means making sure that mental health is a full and equal part of our health care system. 

“Over the past year, we have reached agreements with all provinces and territories to strengthen Canada’s universal public health care system, including funding for mental health care. These agreements are delivering $25 billion in new funding to provinces and territories over the next decade to improve health care for Canadians. We’re also investing $2.4 billion to help provinces and territories bolster mental health and substance use services so that help gets to those who need it – quickly and effectively. And last fall, we improved access to suicide prevention supports by launching the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline – available to Canadians wherever and whenever it’s needed.

“Budget 2024 announced a suite of new investments aimed at improving mental health care for Canadians, including the creation of a new  Youth Mental Health Fund . The Fund will help support community health organizations that provide mental health care to young Canadians. It will also equip these organizations with the tools and resources they need to refer youth to other mental health services in their communities. Because when we invest in our youth and their mental health, we also invest in helping them reach their full potential.

“We are also taking steps to improve mental health care in underserved communities, including Indigenous communities. Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately impacted by mental health challenges, with many facing significantly higher barriers to accessing the mental health care and supports they need. That’s why Budget 2024 includes supports that provide continued access to mental health services for Indigenous Peoples, including approaches to mental health that are culturally appropriate for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. 

“This year’s Mental Health Week theme, #CompassionConnects, calls on us to be kind to others and to ourselves. It can be as easy as checking in on a friend, being open and patient with others, or accepting help when we need it. We all have a part to play in ending the stigma around mental health challenges. And by working together to create a society and mental health care system that are rooted in compassion, we will build a better future for all Canadians.”

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For mental health and wellness information and key links to services and supports, please go to  Canada.ca/mental-health . 

Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigns days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt steps down

personal statement for nutrition and health

Miss Teen USA 2023 is resigning just days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt .

UmaSofia Srivastava , who took home the 2023 title in September, shared a lengthy statement Wednesday announcing her departure because her " personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."

"After months of grappling with the decision, I have made the choice to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023. I am grateful for all the support from my family, my state directors, my sister queens, and the fans who have cheered me on since I won my state title," Srivastava wrote. "I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself."

In a statement shared with USA TODAY on Wednesday, Miss USA CEO and President Laylah Rose said, "Our all-encompassing goal at Miss USA is to celebrate and empower women. Our participants make a real difference in this country and around the globe."

Rose's statement continued, "All along, my personal goal as the head of this organization has been to inspire women to always create new dreams, have the courage to explore it all, and continue to preserve integrity along the way. I hold myself to these same high standards and I take these allegations seriously. Please be assured that the well-being of all individuals associated with Miss USA is my top priority."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

In her resignation statement, Srivastava vowed to continue her philanthropy with The Lotus Pedal Foundation and the Bridge of Books Foundation as she completes her junior year of high school.

"While this was certainly not how I saw my reign coming to a close, I am excited to continue my advocacy for education and acceptance, start applying to colleges, and share some exciting new projects on That’s Fan Behavior with those of you who plan to stick around," she captioned the post, referring to her blog .

Srivastava added: "At the end of the day, I am so lucky to have had the privilege of this experience, but if this is just a chapter, I know that the story of my life will truly be incredible."

"I LOVE YOU! So proud of you my angel," former Miss USA Voigt commented.

Miss USA Noelia Voigt makes 'tough decision' to step down. Read her full statement.

Miss USA Noelia Voigt resigned for her 'mental health,' leading to fan theories

On Monday, Voigt, who was awarded Miss USA in September 2023,  announced her resignation in a statement  on Instagram. The former title holder wrote, "In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health."

Her decision to relinquish her Miss USA crown has sparked a flurry of online speculation after fans noticed a strange detail about her statement.

In the comments of her post and elsewhere on social media, users pieced the first letter in each sentence of her statement to reveal the phrase "I AM SILENCED" — though this discounts the last three sentences, the first letters of which spell "HIP." It was not immediately clear whether the message was intentional.

Miss USA shifts: Did Noelia Voigt's resignation statement contain a hidden message?

Miss USA previously said in a statement to USA TODAY, "We respect and support former Miss USA Noelia Voigt’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time."

The statement added, "The organization is currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor and an announcement regarding the crowning of the new Miss USA will be coming soon."

Prior to Voigt's announcement, Miss USA social media director Claudia Michelle  shared on Instagram  Friday that she has resigned from her role. In a statement posted to social media, she wrote, "I have had the privilege of getting to work with Noelia closely and have unfortunately seen a decline in her mental health since we (first) met. I feel like her ability to share her story and her platform have been diminished."

"I feel the way current management speaks about their titleholders is unprofessional and inappropriate," she went on to write. "I disavow workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind."

In an Instagram story, Michelle shared Voigt's statement and highlighted the "I AM SILENCED" letters.

Miss USA Organization denies accusations of toxic environment

In response to Michelle's post, the Miss USA Organization said in a statement to USA TODAY, "We are troubled to hear the false accusations made by a former Miss USA employee. Miss USA is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment, and we take these allegations seriously. Indeed, we have and will continue to prioritize the well-being of all individuals involved with Miss USA."

In the caption of her original Instagram post, Voigt acknowledged that her resignation "may come as a large shock to many," but added, "Never compromise your physical and mental well-being."

Contributing: Brendan Morrow and Erin Jensen ,  USA TODAY

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