Dietitian vs Nutritionist – Overview
Regarding health, you must choose the right person who can give you the best advice. Health professionals help us live healthily by eliminating unhealthy foods from our daily diet. You need to seek help from a nutrition expert to deal with your health problems.
Nutrition experts can be categorized into two: a dietitian and a nutritionist. Dietitians and Nutritionists serve in the same field but differ in many ways.
A modern lifestyle requires modern solutions. For example, people with busy schedules often forget to eat on time and rely on unhealthy fast food. To live a healthy life, one must focus on the proper diet; a healthcare professional can help.
The Dietitian vs Nutritionist blog will help you differentiate between these healthcare professionals.
Difference Between Dietitians and Nutritionists
Dietitians
A dietitian is an expert who helps us plan our daily diets to overcome health issues. After checking our health conditions, a dietitian prepares a diet plan to manage our diseases. A registered dietitian can work in different areas, such as hospitals, organizations, and clinics.
To become a registered dietitian, one has to complete the following educational qualifications.
A Bachelor’s Degree takes four years with approved coursework by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
An internship of 1200 hours or more under the supervision of a registered dietitian at an accredited healthcare facility. It can also be done at a food service corporation or community agency as per availability.
Passing a national exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
After achieving the registration certificate, a dietitian must complete the yearly examination to manage their license.
Department of Work
A registered dietitian can work in different areas based on his knowledge and experience. For example, as a healthcare professional, he can work at a hospital with other healthcare staff to manage the diet of patients. They can also work in any healthcare facility to manage the nutrition intake of patients.
Besides fieldwork, they can also work as a teacher in schools and universities where they teach about public health issues, nutritional values in foods, etc. to students.
Nutritionists
Nutritionists are a more common term in the United States, where the person who provides nutritional advice is called a nutritionist. Nutritionists don’t require certification; anyone with proper nutrition knowledge can call themselves a nutritionist. They can work independently to help others live healthy lives.
Nutritionists are fewer professionals than dietitians. As a result, dietitians can regulate patients’ health by recommending a new diet plan. On the other hand, nutritionists guide patients about the nutritional values of the foods they eat.
Unlike dietitians, nutritionists work at schools, colleges, universities, organizations, and healthcare facilities.
Those who want to become recognized in nutrition must pass an exam and have advanced degrees. The exam to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist is administered by the Nutritionist Certification Board. Generally, sports nutritionists require such educational qualifications as they have to work with other professionals.
Moreover, candidates must have completed a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and 1000 hours of internship supervised by a registered nutritionist. If the candidate meets these qualifications, he will only be allowed to take the examination to obtain the title of Certified Nutrition Specialist. The Certification Board administers the exam for Nutrition Specialists.
To give you more insights, we have prepared a table briefly describing the differences between Dietitians and Nutritionists.
Dietitian vs Nutritionist
Most people believe that dietitians and nutritionists are the same. However, when you dig deeper, you will find some differences between these two professions.
Dietitian vs Nutritionist – What are the differences?
To call yourself a registered dietitian, you need to meet the educational qualifications set by the board. You will be asked to pass the examination once you complete the education and internship programs. That’s why dietitians are regulated, as they have earned degrees and passed the examination.
Regarding the law, nutritionists don’t have to pass the examination or complete an educational qualification to call themselves nutritionists. It is not regulated. People need to find out whether the nutritionist is qualified or not.
Qualified nutritionists must obtain degrees and other certifications, just like registered dietitians. Many countries have introduced a new term for qualified nutritionists: Re-registered Nutritionist.
The Bottom Line:
Registered dietitians provide nutritional information to sick people with specific health conditions. Dietitians can work independently or in healthcare facilities based on their experience and qualification background.
Generally, a physician or a nurse would refer patients to a dietitian for further treatment, as the treatment involves food intake and nutritional values. Most diseases can be managed by switching to a diet different from the regular one, and a registered dietitian can help prepare a diet plan for managing the disease.
On the other hand, nutritionists don’t have proper qualifications, as US law does not define the term. Nutritionists are healthcare providers with deep knowledge about the nutritional values of foods, beverages, and other eatables.
Anyone can become a nutritionist, but to become a registered dietitian, you must meet the criteria set by US Law.
