Dietetics and enteral nutrition: Past, present, and future

A brief overview examines the emergence, current status, and future association of enteral nutrition and dietetics with respect to the dietitian's role in both areas. The formative stages of modern dietetics began at the turn of the century, while the modern era of enteral nutrition began in the later 1950's with the introduction of therapeutic nutrition tube feeding. It is pointed out that the dietitian has emerged as a member of the health care team, and it is suggested that the dietitian can play a major role in the progressive development of enteral feeding techniques. (wz).