What is a Nutritionist? An Analysis of Nutrition Counseling Services

A nutritionist is an alternative health practitioner who works with a person's diet to help heal or prevent disease. A person who represents themselves as a nutritionist may have several different levels of education including a degree in Nutrition or Dietetics from a University or certification in Nutrition Education and/or Counseling from a private vocational/professional training school. Most people who have a degree in Dietetics in the United States will be registered with the national board and will call themselves Registered Dieticians (R.D.'s). These professionals have a slightly different perspective from the more holistically oriented Certified Nutrition Educators or Counselors (C.N.E's or C.N.C.'s).

While a Registered Dietician may have a vast scientific knowledge of the body and nutrition, they are often quite "institutional" in their approach to patient care. Their focus is entirely within the realm of western medicine, meaning they have rigid guidelines when it comes to dietary recommendations. They often work directly with medical doctors or in hospitals. In many ways, they are trained to treat the disease rather than the person as a whole.

A Certified Nutrition Counselor is not bound by one way of thinking. Their education is holistic in nature, meaning they are trained to view the patient as a whole person rather than simply a disease. They work to help clients manage their health through diet and lifestyle recommendations. They focus on education and motivation rather than simply prescribing a set diet. Dietary recommendations may even include some techniques from herbal or Eastern medicine. They are broad in their perspective and will work with a variety of health models to help their clients achieve a higher level of well being.

There are a variety of reasons that someone would want to see a nutritionist. If you have been recently diagnosed with a weight related condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, you may want to consult a nutritionist in order to determine the best course of action to prevent complications. It would also be a good idea to get advice if your doctor has expressed a concern that you may be developing one of these conditions. A nutritionist can help if you are experiencing general health concerns such as poor immunity or fatigue. Serious diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, can also be improved by consulting a nutritionist along with your regular medical doctor.

Be prepared that a nutritionist will ask you to be an active participant in your healing. You may be asked to keep a daily log of your food intake, take several symptom surveys or questionnaires, report your stress levels, or read specific materials to educate yourself. It is important to take the process seriously. Your nutritionist cannot be more concerned about your condition than you are.

Jan 9, 2007 10:52 AM

Kate C :

Let me first apologize, as I have hopped up on a soap box here... but I felt very passionately about these topics!

As a registered dietitian, I was insulted by the blanket stereotype portrayed in this article; not to mentioned concerned for other readers who may be mislead by this article.

My biggest concern may not apply to every US state, as each state has different laws. But in some states, certain titles can be used by anyone. Any Joe or Jane off the street can call themselves a Nutritionist, a Nutrition Wellness Coach, a Dietologist, etc, post a sign, and start their own business. There is no regulation for what sort of education they had, or what training they went through. "Dietitian," however, is protected nationwide. In order to claim that title, you have to have completed a degree at an approved college, undergone an internship with a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice, passed a national registry test, and then continue to do approved continuing education as long as you hold the title. There have been steps to reduce the risk of quack "nutritionists," and it is good to see some sort of Certification. This is not to say that all nutritionists are bad!!! There are some very educated, qualified individuals out there with this title. Just that people should be careful of whom they trust with their time, money, and health. You should feel confident in asking any professional about their education and experience and seeing their credentials.

Not all dietitians are "institutionalized," only treating symptoms. Perhaps clinical dietitians, working in hospitals, veer this way a little more as time with patients is often very limited, and thus a full treatment plan to address multiple issues and goals is often impossible. But please don't lump all dietitians into this setting! There are far more options for dietitians that a hospital setting. Dietitians practice in a vast array of different fields, from schools and community jobs to gyms and spas, or work as an independent counselor. Dietitians who have the opportunity to do more one-on-one counseling will get a much deeper, and more holistic, plan for people.

Also, regarding western medicine... Each dietitian is different, and each with have their own opinions about alternative treatments. Through the American Dietitic Association, there is a dietetic practice group called "Nutrition in Complementary Care" which is made of dietitians who feel especially passionate towards learning abo

Jul 10, 2007 4:08 PM

Jill Harris :

This is a great post, Kate. As nutrition becomes more and more important in the prevention of obesity and other chronic diseases, there are increasing numbers of people trying to capitalize off of those who don't know any better.

In Canada, "dietitian" and "dietician" are also protected term. Only dietitians registered with their provincial body can use R.D. behind their name. Most dietitians (to my knowledge) are also registered with the Dietitians of Canada; though this is not a necissity.

Receiving such certification is difficult - it involves a 4-year undergraduate degree in Nutritional or Applied Nutritional Science coupled with either a Master's program/internship or year-long internship with practical experience in at least three dietary settings (e.g. community, clinical, and food service nutrition).

When allowing someone to make decisions about your health, it is important to be informed and protect yourself against fraudulent practice.

Jill
http://vegetariancuisine@suite101.com