Quick Facts on Dietitians vs Nutritionists

Dietitians vs Nutritionists

When seeking out a professional to provide nutrition counseling or meal planning help, the options can be overwhelming! With Instagram influencers offering so much dietary advice, it can be hard to know who you should listen to. Should you look for a dietitian or nutritionist? Here are some quick facts to help guide you in your search.

Registered dietitians have earned the credential RDN. This stands for “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.” A credential is a professional qualification that shows the person is a trained expert. The credential is a legally protected title. To earn the RDN credential, dietitians earn a degree from a dietetics program, complete a supervised dietetic internship, and pass a national exam. Many states also require a license to practice dietetics.

Once credentialed, dietitians may work in a variety of settings. Some examples are hospitals, health care facilities, treatment centers, foodservice operations, corporate wellness, athletics, universities, research clinics, and private practice. Dietitians may specialize in certain areas as well, such as sports nutrition or eating disorders.

When it comes to the term “nutritionist,” there is no standardized meaning, and nutritionist is not a credential. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and unfortunately could be unqualified to provide health care or legit dietetic advice. Always be sure to check the credentials of the nutrition expert you seek out to ensure they are qualified and credentialed. RDNs are the real deal when it comes to your nutritional health.

Looking for a nutrition expert? You can go to https://www.eatright.org/find-a-nutrition-expert and find RDNs in your town and also search by expertise.

 

Contributed by Courtney Stoddard, MS, RD, LDN, CEDRD, Director of Outpatient Nutrition at Focus Treatment Centers

 

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