Dietitian or Nutritionist

Posted by on September 27, 2011

What should I eat to lose weight? How much protein should I have? Are carbohydrates fattening? Are egg bad or good for you? So many nutrition questions and so many different answers. No wonder everyone is on a diet or confused when they go to the grocery store. There is an overload of nutrition information out there and so many products that promise health, it’s hard to know what the right path is. Instead of going straight to google or a fitness magazine, get the answers from a Registered Dietitian.

Registered Dietitian

A Registered Dietitian is a nutrition expert. The education includes an undergraduate degree in a nutrition related field, complete a dietetic internship, and pass an exam accredited by the American Dietetic Association. A graduate degree or other certifications are optional. A Registered Dietitian is not the same thing as a “nutritionist.” Nutritionist is a loosely used term and does not require the same academic qualifications, training, regulation, and scope of practice. Dietitians can work in various fields. The three main fields are clinical, foodservice, and public health/community.

A clinical dietitian works in a hospital or nursing home setting providing medical nutrition therapy for patients with various disease states. They need to be able to review the medical chart and make nutrition recommendations to meet medical goals. They work with other hospital service providers- doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc to help treat the patient. Clinical dietitians not only give recommendations regarding diets like heart healthy and diabetic, they calculate the proper nutrition for patients who can’t eat by mouth. Patients sometimes need to be fed by a tube in their stomach or through their veins depending on their medical condition.

A foodservice dietitian works in a kitchen setting in a healthcare facility, school, restaurant, or cafeteria. They work with food safety and sanitation, do menu planning, and supervise the foodservice staff. Community dietitians work with wellness programs, public health agencies, and homecare.

Dietitians can also specialize in pediatrics, research, and specific disease states. The non-traditional paths for dietitians are becoming more common. Dietitians can work in the corporate world, start their own business, do private consulting, be a personal chef, sports nutrition, eating disorders, food allergies, specialize in holistic nutrition and herbal supplements.

Dietitians are stereotyped as food nazis that are strict and make you only eat fruits and veggies but this is not true. A typical nutrition counseling session would entail obtaining a health and nutrition history, obtain weight and maybe body fat and circumference measurements, discuss goals, and end with the dietitian providing you with an individualized meal plan that works for you. The goal is to make the nutrition plan realistic and achievable so that you will get long-term results.

When do you need a dietitian?

Here are some reasons you would seek a dietitian:

  • If you were or have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, or pretty much any disease state- almost all diseases have a nutrition component to them that can help with treatment
  • Need to lose weight or gain
  • Need energy
  • Have food allergies or intolerances
  • Sports performance
  • Have symptoms of an eating disorder or emotional eating

Many people have a problem with compliance when it comes to nutrition and making lifestyle changes. A dietitian can help set up an eating plan for a client based on his or her goals and then make sure you are following it. As a client, you need to first be ready to make changes. It seems obvious but many people think they are ready for change and they continue to make excuses. Whatever you are doing now is NOT working so you need to be open to new foods and setting aside time to plan. If you are not willing to eat any healthy foods, it’s nearly impossible for a dietitian to help get to your goal. You need to make an effort to keep track of what you are eating on a daily basis and prepare meals and snacks ahead of time. There needs to be a balance of healthy foods and foods you splurge on; avoid being too extreme when it comes to nutrition. This philosophy will make the client successful and set themselves up for health in the long term.

Health and nutrition has become more important recently due to the increased rate of many diseases and the obesity epidemic in adults and children. Many people want to lose weight and are looking to do it quickly and conveniently. A dietitian can help people lose weight healthfully and safely with long-term results. Dietitians look at the whole picture and take into account the body and it’s state of health when making recommendations. To find a dietitian in your area, go to the American Dietetic Association website (http://www.eatright.org/) and you can search for a dietitian that is near you and specializes in what you need.