_edited.jpg)
Nutritionist, Dietitian same thing right?
Actually, sometimes there is a difference between a nutritionist and a Dietitian.
There is a lot of misunderstanding between these two titles. A lot of people don’t know the difference between the two.
All Dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are Dietitians
What is a registered dietitian?
A registered dietitian is a regulated health professional who has a passion for food and it’s ability to improve health. They translate the science of nutrition to terms that are understandable. They are trained to provide safe and effective nutrition advice so you can understand the connection between food and health and they work with you to find your healthy.
How does someone become a Registered Dietitian?
Registered Dietitians undergo comprehensive and rigorous training, both on the job and in university. Dietitians are held accountable to the highest standards of education and ethics, which means they look beyond fads and gimmicks to deliver reliable, life-changing advice.
You must first graduate with a 4-year food and nutrition bachelors degree from an accredited university program and then undergo an unpaid period of practical training either through an internship program (1 year) or a masters degree program (2 years). After that you must write and pass the national licensing exam in order to call yourself a Registered Dietitian. Then in order to maintain your licence you must stay on top of new emerging research, skills and techniques (just like all other regulated health professionals).
So how is a nutritionist different?
The title “dietitian” is protected by law across Canada. This means only people who meet certain criteria and standards can call themselves a dietitian. Nutritionist is only a protected title in Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and PEI, so in these provinces dietitian and nutritionist are equivalent. However, this isn’t the case elsewhere in Canada where anyone can call themselves a nutritionist.
There are no qualifications required to call yourself a nutritionist but this doesn't mean that nutritionists aren't knowledgeable in nutrition counselling. There are plenty of nutritionists out there with huge success in the nutrition counselling industry, some of which may even have a bachelor degree in nutrition.
What about the titles Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Nutritional Practitioner, RNCP, ROHP, CNP?
These titles are not the same as Registered Dietitian, and do not indicate that the person is a regulated health professional. They are often used for privately owned training programs that vary in length.
The goal of this post was to educate you on the differences between the different titles and when looking for nutrition advice, know who you are asking.
If you have any health concerns or questions and you want to verify that your health provider is a dietitian look for the initials "RD" or PDt" designation after their name, which stands for Registered Dietitian, and Professional Dietitian.
Please don't hesitate to share so we can help more people understand who Dietitians are.
Resources/Learn more:
Comentarios