A Question for Medical Professionals

Anyone can claim that they are a nutritionist but you have to go to school to become a registered dietician. I went to a great registered dietician and lost 30 lbs. She told me what to eat in relation to my health. I have hypothyroidism so I should limit my soy intake, and because of my insulin resistance, I also need to have a protein when I eat a carbohydrate even if it is a healthy carbohydrate like fruit. She treated my whole body and not just my food intake.

Both think they are the right person to give advice. It depends on where you are.

I have a neighbor who is a RD (registered dietician) and she thinks that aspartame, sucralose (Splenda) and milk is important at each meal - even if it's not organic. Her kids tell my kids that Cheese-Itz are a good source of calcium because they have real cheese in them.

I have a friend who is a nutritionist and she gives the exact opposite advice. I tend to go this direction. My kids don't eat Cheese-Itz and I went through the myriad of ingredients in them and discussed them with my kids. We try not to eat processed foods - things in boxes and cans.

What your insurance pays and the referral process depends on your policy, so call your insurance company and find out.

A dietician has a four degree degree in nutrition and then usually a master's to obtain the RD/LD status. (registered dietician/licensed dietician. They must pass a test to become licensed and are required to take continuing education classes in order to stay current and maintain their licenses. A nutritionist may take classes in nutrition but there is no organization that says that a nutritionist has to meet certain guidelines. In many states, anyone can hang up a sign that they are a nutritionist, so be very careful who you select. Insurance is probably only going to pay for a visit to an RD/LD. Whether you need a referral depends on your insurance. If you are just wanting general information on eating healthier you might check with local resources like the county health department. If you have special dietary or medical issues to deal with, I would see an RD/LD. Ask about their approach to family nutrition. Good luck!

Depends on what you are looking for. Generally insurance companies and doctors only recognize and refer to dietitians.
A good dietitian will give you the politically correct answer for any problem. The American Dietetic Association accepts money from all kinds of food and drink companies, which then in turn, could lead you to believe they will have some sort of obligation to that company whether or not the admit it.
A nutritionist understands the food-mind-body-disease connection. As a registered nurse, I now see things on more the 'alternative' side and will seek the help of a nutritionist first. And have.

I recently was diagnosed with hypothyroid and adrenal fatigue. I started working with a nutritionist and between her and my doctor, I've lost 10 pounds in 6 weeks. Not anything drastic. No artificial sweeteners or packaged foods, but real nutrition based on my needs.

Added. To piggyback on Jennifer's post. . . . I do NOT believe that artificial anything is healthy. I don't give a rats rear that the FDA has deemed it safe. When you read the history and how some of the food products are approved it makes you wonder. That too is my biggest issue with RD's. Artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners are safe because the government and their text books say they are OK. I don't believe that.

In my experience, "dieticians" spew the outdated non-sense that the giant industries the AHA, ADA (diabetes, not dental but they're guilty too) and ACS take money and research from. My husband saw one a couple of years ago who was still preaching that margarine was better than butter, that "calorie free" beverages sweetened with Splenda and aspartame were good choices and that you get elevated cholesterol from eating high-cholesterol foods and that fat-free processed snacks are good for you. My MIL works for Coca-Cola, which is "Proud to Be a Partner" with the AHA's "Go Red for Women" campaign via the Diet Coke line. Never mind that heart disease is a disease of inflammation and that artificial sweeteners trigger an insulin response that contributes to inflammation. CC spends countless sums of money on "research" that supports the idea that their beverages DON'T contribute to obesity and associated health problems.

Anyway...our family sees a chiropractor who does nutrition counseling. She is all about whole foods, how real food is healing and restorative and how foods complement each other to promote optimal health. This is not covered by insurance, but your plan may be different and may cover some sessions.

Good for you for looking for help. There is a lot of bad information out there, and even the best information gets updated over time. It can be overwhelming, but just start with the basics and keep things simple. Focus on small changes one or two at a time and things become manageable.

I like talking about food, therefore I can call myself a nutritionist.

A registered dietitian has to complete, minimally, a four year degree which includes an internship in all areas of dietetics ranging from counseling individual clients, working with patients/doctors, working every aspect of food service, etc. They also have to take a national exam and pass it to earn the title.

Go to a registered dietitian.

My husband is a registered dietitian, and he had to go through a bachelor's degree and an internship before being eligible to sit for the exam. Some dietitan's get a master's instead of an internship. Some do both. He is also licensed by the agency that licenses doctors and nurses in our state. Some states also license nutrionists. In others, anyone who believes they have a lot of knowledge in nutrition can call themselves a nutritionist. My husband works for the VA, but I would ask your insurance what they cover and what referrals are needed. Coverage varies. To keep his registration and license, my husband has to develop a 5 year continuing education plan, and show that he is completing it yearly. Like all professions, there are people who are better than others. I would not only look at the person's credentials, but I would also ask them to support their recommendations with facts. In addition to being a registered dietitian, my husband has also sat for the exam and done the educaion to be a geriatric dietitian. There are a lot of specialties - pediatrics, sports, diabetic educators, etc. A good practitioner will assess where you and your family are now and work with you to plan ways to achieve your goals, helping you to determine what goals are right for each person in your family. It also may be worth asking if your insurance covers wellness services - many have free programs for that. On a personal note, my husband is only my dietitian when I ask him to be, and often I do since I am diabetic. He was able to make carb counting something I can live with and do consistently. His book knowledge is important, but his ability to communicate it so I can understand it, empathy instead of scare tactics, and encouragement are what makes him a great dietitian. His clients tell him about things they have heard, and he researches them to see if it makes sense rather than giving a standard answer to all. A good nutritionist would likely be able to do the same thing. As he would say the difference is the alphabet soup after the name.

Both have 3month 'certs', and both have 4-6 year degree paths. It depends on MANY factors, including when they graduated as well as the type of education they recieved, and state requirements.

I'll just answer part of this: a psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor. Went to medical school, learned all of the different specialties and then opted to focus in psychiatry (and can prescribe medication). A counselor is not a Medical Doctor although might have benefits for many people.

You need to check what your insurance will cover and ask very specific questions. With my Aetna PPO, I do not need a referral to a specialist. Call the number on your card regarding coverage.