Dietitian, nutritionist, gut health expert, health coach, certified nutritionist – the list goes on and on. There are a lot of titles out there, some more legit than others! It is essential to get your health information from a qualified professional, and it is also important to remember that there is a lot of false information out there.
Most medical professionals recommend looking for someone with the title “dietitian,” “registered dietitian,” or “registered dietitian nutritionist,” “certified dietitian,” or “licensed dietitian.” Only certain people who have passed through a lot of rigorous schooling and credentialing can call themselves a dietitian. All of the other titles are really meaningless – anyone with any level of education (or zero education) can call themselves a nutritionist or use one of these other unprotected titles.
What is a Dietitian?
Dietitians are legitimate food experts, with more nutrition training than other healthcare professionals. In fact, even doctors receive very little nutrition education and often need to refer patients to a dietitian for nutrition concerns and coaching.
The path to becoming a dietitian is not a cakewalk. Dietitians must earn an undergraduate degree, and then many continue on to receive a master’s degree as well. In fact, in the coming years, it will be required for dietitians to have that level of advanced education. A 1200+ hour internship is another requirement before becoming a registered dietitian. This is similar to a medical residency where dietitians are trained in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and management. This means you spend time in hospitals, WIC offices, schools, private practices, state offices, etc. doing all sorts of different nutrition work.
Finally, before becoming registered as a dietitian, you have to take a challenging exam that covers anything and everything related to nutrition. Once you can finally use the title of “dietitian,” you still are required to do many hours of continuing education to keep your license.
Dietitians are trained in a number of areas, but just like other professionals, many choose a specialty. Examples include prenatal nutrition, sports nutrition, weight management, diabetes management, nutrition for kidney disease, etc. Finding a dietitian with a lot of experience and knowledge in whichever area you need is super important to make sure you are receiving the care you deserve!
In other words, dietitians know what they are talking about. Yet sometimes people are still inclined to listen more to the random guy at the gym than to a nutrition professional!
What is a Nutritionist?
Nutritionist is a title I see a lot, but this also applies to other health related titles like health coach, nutrition expert, etc. First of all, let me say that if someone holds the title of “registered dietitian nutritionist” they are a good resource. But without the “dietitian” part… I would stay away.
Nutritionist is a term that anyone can use. There is no special education or experience necessary to call yourself a nutritionist. Even you, the person reading this, could yourself one if you wanted!
Does this mean that everything a nutritionist says is false? Not necessarily. There are a lot of well-educated people out there who aren’t dietitians. Sometimes, nutritionists are doing their best to share good information, but just lack the background and training.
Put it another way: All dietitians are nutritionists. But not all nutritionists are dietitians.
Should I See a Dietitian or Nutritionist?
Most doctors recommend seeing a dietitian for all of your nutrition needs. This is the best way to ensure you are getting accurate, science-backed information. It might seem like nutritionists can offer results quickly, but that does not mean they are promoting safe practices or ones that will be sustainable in the long run.
At Salt Lake NutriCoaching, we try our best to match people up with a dietitian that has experience and training in the area that you need help with. We also know the importance of building strong connections with the people we work with, so with different personalities and approaches to counseling, you can always let us know if you would like to visit with someone different within our practice!
There doesn’t have to be something “wrong” with you to see a dietitian. Good nutrition information can be hard to come by, and since all of us have to eat every day, it is a good idea for everyone to see a dietitian, even if it is just for a quick check-in. Following a healthy and intuitive eating pattern that consists of yummy food and no restrictions can make all the difference in your life. As dietitians, we want to help you fuel your best and feel your best! Come see us!
