About ADA

What is ADA?
What Is ADA?
With more than 70,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1917 by a visionary group of women, led by Lenna F. Cooper and ADA's first president, Lulu C. Graves, dedicated to helping the government conserve food and improve the public's health and nutrition during World War I.

ADA Members
Approximately 75 percent of ADA's members are registered dietitians and four percent are dietetic technicians, registered. Other members include clinical and community dietetics professionals, consultants, food service managers, educators, researchers, dietetic technicians and students. Nearly half of all ADA members hold advanced academic degrees.

ADA Location
Headquarters
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: 800/877-1600

Journal of the American Dietetic Association
The most widely read peer-reviewed periodical in the dietetics field, the monthly Journal brings original research, critical reviews and reports and authoritative commentary and information to nutrition and dietetics professionals throughout the world. Access the table of contents, research study abstracts and selected articles at www.adajournal.org.

Media Contact Information To contact ADA's Public Relations Team, e-mail media@eatright.org.

ADA Web Site
www.eatright.org

Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education is ADA's accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitians or dietetics technicians.

CADE exists to serve the public by establishing and enforcing eligibility requirements and accreditation standards that ensure the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. Programs meeting those standards are accredited by CADE.

ADA Foundation
The American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) was established in 1966 as a 501(C)(3) public charity. Its mission is to fund the future of the dietetics profession through research and education.

The Foundation's vision is to be a leader in promoting and achieving healthy weight for children, helping to reduce the growing prevalence of childhood obesity.

ADAF achieves its goals by providing support for research, education and public awareness programs.

The Foundation is proud to be recognized as the largest grantor of scholarships in the nutrition and dietetic fields. For the 2007-2008 academic year, ADAF has invested in the future of the dietetics profession by awarding approximately $295,000 to about 225 graduate, undergraduate and continuing education scholarships.

What Is a Registered Dietitian?
A registered dietitian (RD) is a food and nutrition expert who has met academic and professional requirements including:

Bachelor's degree with course work approved by ADA's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Coursework typically includes food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.
Complete an accredited, supervised, experiential practice program at a health-care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation.
Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Some RDs hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice, such as pediatric or renal nutrition and diabetes education. About half of all registered dietitians work in clinical settings, private practice or health-care facilities. Many work in community and public health settings, academia and research, business, journalism, sports nutrition and wellness programs.

ADA's Mission
Leading the future of dietetics

ADA's Vision
ADA members are the most valued source of food and nutrition services

ADA's Research Philosophy
The ADA believes that research is the foundation of the profession providing the basis for practice, education and policy. Dietetics is the integration and application of principles derived from the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food management and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain people's health; therefore, dietetics research is a dynamic collaborative and assimilative endeavor. This research is broad in scope ranging from basic to applied practice research.
The Association uses research as the basis of decisions, policy, and communication in a variety of roles. The Association's organizational roles related to research include advocating, facilitating, convening, funding, disseminating, and educating its members. The Association accomplishes these roles collaboratively with other scientists and organizations.

Key Areas of Interest
ADA's commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives brings the Association into the forefront of five critical health areas facing all Americans:

Food & Nutrition Information
ADA's Knowledge Center provides timely and objective food and nutrition information for consumers, health professionals and ADA members. Online resources can help consumers achieve a healthy lifestyle and answer food and nutrition questions.

ADA Position Statements
ADA Position Papers explain the Association's stance on issues that affect the nutritional status of the public. Positions, which consist of a position statement and a support paper, are based on sound scientific data. Position statements address issues such as children's health, food technology and safety, public health, consumer education, health care reform, elderly nutrition and health-care provider education. Texts of ADA position statements are available to members online.

Advocacy & the Profession
Support for nutrition is not only good public policy, it is good politics. The 65,000 members of the American Dietetic Association urge consumers and lawmakers to learn about the positive role nutrition plays in healthy lifestyles. Nutrition also plays an effective role in disease management and treatment. For both individuals and society, the benefits of eating right and exercising include improved qualities of life and lower health-care costs. Additional information about ADA's policy initiatives and advocacy is available online.

Obesity and overweight
Aging
Complementary care and dietary supplements
Safe and nutritious food supply
Human genome and genetics

Affiliated Associations
Fifty state dietetic associations, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the American Overseas Dietetic Association, are affiliated with ADA. Within these groups, there are approximately 230 district associations.

Commission on Dietetic Registration CDR has sole and independent authority in all matters pertaining to certification, including but not limited to standard setting, establishment of fees, finances, and administration.CDR protects the public through credentialing processes of dietetics practitioners.

More than 76,000 dietitians and dietetic technicians across the country and the world have taken CDR exams over the past several decades. CDR currently awards eight separate and distinct credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD); Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR); Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG); Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD); Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP); Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR); and Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO); and Fellow of the American Dietetic Assocation (FADA).