Dietitian or Nutritionist/Nutrition Therapist...what's the difference ?
It’s a well-known fact these days that western countries have, in general a rather terrible diet. Despite this, there has never been more nutrition information available and practitioners to dispense it. The issue however is that Dietitians, Nutritionists and Nutrition Therapists are often clustered together as being one and the same, but they most certainly are not.
I spend a lot of time correcting people when they call me a Nutritionist and although they must think I’m mad, it’s incredibly important to make sure you know the difference between the three when deciding where you get your nutrition information. Where they are similar is that they have the ultimate goal of improving someone's health and wellbeing through diet and lifestyle. However where they differ is most important, particularly when you are selecting your practitioner to ensure you’re getting the most accurate and safe information.
Dietician
Education
In Australia, all Dietitians are considered to be Nutritionists but Nutritionists without a Dietetics qualification can’t practice as a Dietitian.
A Dietitian is someone who has completed a university degree, which is either a 4-year Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics or a 3-year undergraduate Science degree followed by a 1-year Masters of Dietetics. Within this degree, a Dietitian has completed substantial theory in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service management. In the final year of a Dietetics degree, students have to complete three supervised and assessed, 6-week practical blocks in clinical dietetics within a hospital, community health and in food service.
Accreditation
After completing their degree, a Dietitian then must complete 1 year as a provisionary Dietitian and mentoring before being eligible for accreditation as an Accredited Practising Dietitian with the Dietetics Association of Australia.
What They Do?
A Dietitian is trained to take scientific nutrition data and translate it into everyday food information that’s easy to understand. They can work in hospitals, private practice, industry and in the community. In hospital and private practice, Dietitians work in a clinical setting with teams of doctors and specialists and are involved in diagnosing and treating patients and working with patients with special dietary needs. They work on an individual, community and population level to promote wellbeing and prevent nutrition-related issues.
What To See Them For?
A Dietitian may specialise in a particular area like paediatrics or diabetes, particularly in a hospital but in general a privately practicing dietitian like myself will see patients for everything from improved lifestyle and wellbeing, energy, sleep and skin, weight loss, hormonal issues, polycystic ovarian syndrome as well as serious medical conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, auto-immune diseases and food allergies and intolerances.
Nutritionist and Nutrition Therapist
Education
A ‘Nutritionist’ or ‘Nutrition Therapist’ is an unregulated title that anyone with a variety of levels of education can call themselves, from someone who has completed an online quick course, a private college course and right up to a university degree in food science or human nutrition.
Accreditation
In Australia, a Nutritionist and Nutrition Therapist is a non-accredited, unregulated title so there are no laws to protect those who provide nutrition information. They also have not had any formal, supervised practical training and so they are not qualified to diagnose or provide dietary treatment of any diseases.
What They Do?
A Nutritionist with a university degree will often be found working in the media and food journalism, food technology and development, food science, as a Dietitian’s assistant as well as health education and research.
A Nutritionist or Nutrition Therapist with college or online qualifications may be found on social media or blogs, in private practice, in conjunction with complementary therapies or in food development.
What To See Them For?
See a Nutritionist or Nutrition Therapist for general nutrition advice and guidance but not clinical nutritional interventions.