Finding a Healthy Work-Life Balance for Dietitians in Dr. Patten’s Lab

Many within the dietetics field struggle to find a healthy work-life interface. The process to become a dietitian can be time-consuming with heavy course loads; a supervised, accredited practice program; and the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam for national credentialing.

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Dietetics faces challenges with hiring diversity as a field that is predominantly comprised of women (around 92%). While a large portion of dietitians are also in a dual-career family, many in the field opt out of work due to relocation issues and not finding an open position when they move.

Dr. Emily Patten’s lab focuses on these challenges by delving into what dietitians feel about their careers, highlighting burnout and management relations. Patten’s ultimate goal with the lab is to increase the number of registered dietitians and make them more effective.

“I’ve always loved being a dietitian, but I see a lot of my friends opt out of the profession or have a difficult time making everything work in their life,” says Patten. “I see the dietitians who can, so I think there are systematic things we can change that make [dietetic] work more viable for people.”

Patten’s projects have looked at pain points in dietetics, emphasizing organizational behavior within the industry. She has studied the gamut of difficulties that prospective and professional dietitians face from how students cope with stress and mental illness in their undergraduate coursework to maternity leave policies. She has also recently started a study delving into how AI impacts the dietetics field.

Photo by SJ Tittle/BYU

In order to gather data about these issues, Patten conducts interviews and surveys that get to the core experiential problems. She interviews both students and current dietetics professionals.

Tara McCormick (NDFS ’23), a graduate student of Patten’s, researched how dietitian performance is impacted by their relationship with their manager. On working with Patten, McCormick says, “She gives you a really good framework to work within, but still gives you creative freedom to do the project how it makes the most sense to you. She doesn’t micromanage you, but she also just provides enough structure that you feel like you can be successful.”

Sarah Powell (NDFS '25) enjoys learning about her expansive career opportunities from Patten’s interviews. “When I read some responses of professionals, I get more ideas about things that I could do and the possibilities that are out there for dietitians that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise,” says Powell.

Patten’s goal is to help dietitians reach their full potential. “How do we get people to a space where they are meeting their divine potential and are able to navigate all their responsibilities in life?” she asks. “Heavenly Father wants us to contribute in our own unique ways. We have to be in a healthy place to start to do that.”

If you’re interested in understanding and supporting dietitians throughout their careers, reach out to Dr. Emily Patten at emily_patten@byu.edu.