*written by Andrew Akhaphong, Mackenthun's Fine Foods Registered & Licensed Dietitian When was your first time you have heard of the title, "Registered Dietitian"? Was it now...? Or did you work with one before? Do you recall the number of times you have heard of the title, "Nutritionist"? How does that compare to your exposure to the title, "Registered Dietitian"? To take a wild guess, you may have heard "nutritionist" more often than "registered dietitian". They both work in the food and nutrition field, but what is the difference between them? What is a Registered DietitianRegistered Dietitians are individuals who are scientific experts in the areas of food and nutrition. Their title, "registered dietitian", is a protected entity governed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and individual state legislation. Registered Dietitians often have the credentials, "RD" after their name which signify their job profession and education; however, some Registered Dietitians may instead use, "RDN", meaning "Registered Dietitian Nutritionist". Both titles/credentials are interchangeable for usage. According to Minnesota Statute 148.621 Subd. 7., " 'Dietitian' means an individual who engages in dietetics or nutrition practice and uses the title Dietitian". Minnesota Statute 148.621 Subd. 9 states, " 'dietetics or nutrition practice' means the integration and application of scientific principles of food, nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food management, and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain human health through the provision of nutrition care services". Minnesota Statute 3250.0010 also states Registered Dietitians who actively practice Medical Nutrition Therapy must be licensed in the state of Minnesota to practice (see below for more information about Medical Nutrition Therapy). Education Requirements for Registered DietitiansThe training and education to become a Registered Dietitian could equally be as demanding and difficult as a registered nurse. To become a Registered Dietitian, one must...
Some Registered Dietitians may hold advanced credentials or certifications...
Working Responsibilities of a Registered DietitianPracticing Registered Dietitians must follow The Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice as established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The main skillset of Registered Dietitians is to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy. According to The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Nutrition Therapy is the "nutritional diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services for the purpose of disease management which are furnished by a registered dietitian". Medical Nutrition Therapy is a specific application of the Nutrition Care Process in clinical settings that is focused on the management of diseases. Medical Nutrition Therapy involves in-depth individualized nutrition assessment and a duration and frequency of care using the Nutrition Care Process to manage disease. Little do people know, but the way you eat or how you alter your metabolism may have harmful effects on any medication regimens you are on; this is why there is a need for a Registered Dietitian to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy. Registered Dietitians are the only food and nutrition professionals, who are also considered medical providers, that can legally deliver Medical Nutrition Therapy; thus many Registered Dietitians work in the clinical stetting like hospitals or clinics. They may get to wear scrubs or a lab coat! Of course, many Registered Dietitians can be found elsewhere such as at a retail setting like Mackenthun's Fine Foods, health departments, operating food service operations, food companies like Dairy Queen, and more! In the clinical setting, a Registered Dietitian could perform any of the following duties including...
In the foodservice management setting, a Registered Dietitian could perform any of the following duties including...
In the foodservice management setting, a Registered Dietitian could perform any of the following duties including...
What is a NutritionistAll Registered Dietitians are "Nutritionists" but not all nutritionists are not "Registered Dietitians". Nutritionists can also be experts in food and nutrition; however, "nutritionist" is not a regulated title in much of the country compared to the Registered Dietitian title. Some states do have specific legislation of who can call themselves a nutritionist. According to Minnesota Statute 148.621 Subd. 8, " 'Nutritionist' means an individual who engages in dietetics or nutrition practice and uses the title nutritionist". Minnesota Statute 3250.0020 reports nutritionists who wants to practice nutrition with the title "nutritionist" must hold state licensure. Each state may or may not have specific licensure or practice guidelines; however, in the state of Minnesota, persons with the title "nutritionist" must have completed and hold the following...
Note, depending on state legislation, individuals who call themselves "Nutritionists" may not be required to do continuing education credits. The purpose of continuing education credits is to continually do research and education on topics of interests to continue providing scientific-based education and interventions to clients that are up-to-date. Education Requirements for NutritionistsMany Nutritionists may have gone to school for a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees in food and nutrition, or a related field. As stated before, Each state may or may not have specific licensure or practice guidelines for a Nutritionist with the exception of Minnesota requiring a doctorate degree and registration with the American Clinical Board of Nutrition. Some Nutritionists do not have special training or a scientific educational foundation at all. Some perhaps will receive training from the organization they work for. If you do a quick Google search for "Certificates in Nutrition", you will find many programs offering training and education in nutrition in as little as two weeks. These trainings may not include Human Physiology, Biochemistry, or Pharmacology. Many Nutritionists are social media influencers and self-proclaimed experts which can do more harm than good to the public in regards to knowing how to decipher what is scientific, evidenced-based information. A common source of information they may provide, not all, are personal anecdotes to justify success and "research" of the nutrition plans they provide. Nutritionists also tend to do more meal / menu planning and utilize interventions such as counting macros, calorie tracking, or specifying a specific diet or lifestyle that may not coincide with your patterns and interests. Nutritionists can work anywhere; however, most clinical settings like the hospital or clinic will not hire a nutritionist, even if they are a Certified Nutrition Specialist or Clinical Nutrition Specialist due to the different trainings and education they receive from Registered Dietitians. The Bottom LineIf you are looking for nutrition advice on how to improve your overall wellbeing while being cognizant of your medical needs like medications, lab work, and disease conditions; then Registered Dietitians are the way to go.
If you are look for nutrition advice on how to improve your overall wellbeing from a general perspective without regard to other factors like your medical history; then a Nutritionist may be for you. As always, use discretion and do research on your provider, whether that is on a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist.
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