The question of a dietician vs nutritionist often comes up when trying to find a reliable source of information about nutrition. Since most of the time the dietician nutritionist debate comes up is when it is necessary to choose a qualified professional in order to set up a meal plan designed to lose weight, promote good health, or treat a particular medical condition, you want to be sure to get the best, most qualified help that you can. The difference between dietician and nutritionist is not always clear, as it will vary between individuals, but there are a few guidelines to help you along.
What Are Dieticians and Nutritionists?
A registered dietician is a state-certified food and nutrition expert. They provide patients with nutrition and dietary information specifically tailored to his or her specific medical needs, history, and goals. They are regulated by the American Dietetic Association, or ADA, and have very standardized requirements across the country.
A nutritionist, however, is not so clearly regulated. Nutritionists are people who study nutritional science in an effort to help people use food in the treatment and prevention of various ailments. While there are several different certifying agencies across the states, they are not standardized. The dietician vs nutritionist debate often focuses on this lack of standardization.
Education For A Dietician and Nutritionist
This is where the debate of dietician versus nutritionist becomes the most heated, and it is a result of that lack of standardization in the nutritionist world that was previously discussed.
A registered dietician is a known and regulated credential, just as you would find for a medical doctor or a registered nurse. They are required to obtain a four-year degree in dietetics, spend 900 hours in an internship, pass an exam, and complete continuing education credits periodically in order to maintain that credential.
The dietician vs nutritionist debate becomes muddy when you look at the educational requirements for a nutritionist. You may very well find nutritionists that are every bit as qualified, if not more so, than dieticians, but you also run the risk of finding others that have no qualifications at all.
There are various organizations that work in the certification of nutritionists, and each one will have its own requirements. If you are in doubt as to the qualifications of your nutritionist, feel free to ask about their education. A health professional should not be offended by a patient wanting the best care possible.
Dietician vs Nutritionist: Which Do You Choose?
In all honesty, if you want to be sure of a clear, consistent level of education and qualifications, you are better off seeking out a registered dietician. If, however, you find a nutritionist that can prove to you his or her level of education and comes with a good referral from others, you may do just as well. Just keep in mind that the term nutritionist is not clearly or consistently regulated.
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