Dietician vs. nutritionist

A healthy, balanced diet is imperative for good health and long life. There are foods that are better if avoided, and there are those that need to be present in the everyday diet. Certain foods work well in case of certain diseases and health problems, and they can even be considered a cure.

People who have health problems and issues, who want to lose weight or who simply want to eat healthy often seek advice from nutritionists and dieticians. In the minds of most people, these two professions are the same. There are, in fact, many similarities, but there are also profound differences between the two.

Both fields deal with the relationship between the food people eat and their health, and the main difference is in the formality of education and training and in the credibility of their operations.

Dietician Vs. Nutritionist: Definitions

A dietitian or dietician is a professional who chalks out entire food charts, completed with kinds and quantities of food that are suitable for each individual.

A nutritionist, on the other hand, is a medical specialist who studies and advocates nutritional science. He or she recommends food groups and food items regarding the individual health state of his or her client and any potential diseases that may occur due to nutritional deficiencies.

Dietician Vs. Nutritionist: Qualifications

The definitions of a qualified dietician and nutritionist may seem very similar or almost the same, but the real difference is much clearer if their individual qualifications and competences are observed.

A dietician must have more formal degree of education, and he or she usually has at least a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or food science.

On the other hand, nutritionists do not necessarily have a professional degree and they simply study the field and advise people based on the knowledge they acquired from whatever source seemed reliable to them. Because there is often no formal validation of their expertise, the relationship between a client and their nutritionists is simply based on trust or recommendation. However, there are degrees and licenses that are available for nutritionists too, and they can be helpful for improving their credibility and reputation.

Dietician Vs. Nutritionist: Types

Both professions can be divided into several types.

Nutritionists can be divided into those who work as consultants for a health establishment or in their own private practice, and those who are hired to do marketing activities and research.

As for the dieticians, they can be classified as management, community or clinical dieticians.

Management dieticians create meal plans for institutions like schools or colleges, community dieticians educate people about the importance and the ways of healthy diet and clinical dieticians work in hospitals or clinics with the patients who are admitted there.