Saturday, March 30, 2013

RD vs. Nutritionist

Today's battle features the RD and the Nutritionist! Their brains are pumped full of healthy knowledge and their fists are full of fiber. Who will rise to challenge and defend the title?

Ding! Round 1: Who are they?
-A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has earned at least a bachelor's degree from a nutrition program at an accredited university. They then go on to a 6month to 1 year intensive internship, followed by passing of the registration exam. The RD must complete continuing education requirements in order to maintain their licensure and certifications.
-A Nutritionist, on the other hand, is not a licensed term. Basically, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. While their information may be credible, you can never be too sure.

Ding! Round 2: What Does This Fancy RD do?
-A Clinical Dietitian works in a hospital or other long term care facility. They work to assess the patient's nutritional needs and develop a specific diet for various health conditions.
-A Private Practice Dietitian typically work under contract and will offer client advice on weight loss, weight gain, diabetes education, etc. They could also work for wellness programs or act as consultants for FSM.
-A Food Service Dietitian oversees large-scale meal planning and preparation in a variety of food service settings (health care, cafeterias, prisons, schools, etc). They also contribute to managing the budget.
-A Community Dietitian works in various public health settings including health clinics, WIC, school programs, etc. They help to develop nutritional care plans for individuals and their families

Ding! Round 3: Who Does The Insurance Cover?
Many insurances are starting to cover the Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by a RD. The same does not usually occur with a Nutritionist.

And the winner is....

The Registered Dietitian! Brought to you by credible information!

*Side note, some RDs can be quacks too, and money can play a big part in this, so still question the information with which you are uncertain*

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