What Does a Nutritionist Do?

Nutritionist is an umbrella term for health professionals who specialize in nutrition and the human diet. Training, education, and certifications vary, and some people who work as nutritionists have no medical background or professional training.

If you want to work with a nutritionist to improve your overall health, treat a certain medical condition, or reach a specific wellness or body composition goal, it's important to choose an experienced and reputable healthcare provider.

Here's everything you need to know about nutritionists, including what they do, where they work, what they treat, and how to find the best provider for your specific needs.

Nutritionist vs. Dietitian

The terms nutritionist" and “dietitian” are often used interchangeably to refer to people who work in the field of nutrition. However, there are important differences. All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians.

Dietitian

Dietitians are board-certified healthcare providers who have completed extensive education and training in the nutrition field. To work as a dietitian, you must meet the following requirements:

• Earn a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program
• 1,000 hours of supervised practical experience
• Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Examination for Registered Dietitians
• Meet state practice requirements
• Complete continuing education to recertify throughout your career (75 CPEUS, or credits, every five years)

Dietitians—sometimes referred to as nutritionists, registered dietitians (RDs), or registered dietitian-nutritionists (RDNs)—can accept insurance and work in medical settings like hospitals and long-term care centers. They're trained to perform medical nutrition therapy (nutrition-based treatment for specific health conditions). They might also work in fields like education, research, public health, media, and product development. They might also work in private practice.

Medical professionals like doctors and nurse practitioners might specialize in nutrition and complete nutrition training and education to provide nutritional counseling to their patients. Though these healthcare providers aren't dietitians, they have the background and experience to counsel people who need nutrition-related care.

Nutritionist

Nutritionists offer general nutritional advice and guidance. They might focus on habit change and helping people implement new eating habits.

Nutritionists do not diagnose or treat conditions or recommend specific diet plans. Their credentials are often state-based versus national.

Education might include a bachelor's or master's degree in nutrition or a certification program. Some nutritionists might choose to become certified nutrition specialists (CNS). A CNS must complete the following requirements:

• Master of Science or doctoral degree (nutrition or similar field)
• 35 hours of relevant nutritional coursework
• 1,000 hours of supervised practical experience
• Personalized case study reports
  

What Conditions Does a Nutritionist Diagnose and Treat?

Dietitians provide nutrition-related care for people with a variety of medical conditions. Dietitians who work in hospitals often treat many different health conditions daily. Dietitians who work in private practice or a more specialized medical setting typically focus on one specific disease or health concern.

Here are some of the most common conditions treated by dietitians:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Eating disorders
• People who are critically ill and require tube feeding or total parental nutrition (TPN)
• Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions
• Autoimmune disease
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Cancer

Many private practice dietitians also counsel people on general health eating and disease prevention.

Some dietitians work in sports nutrition, helping design specialized eating patterns for athletes. Others specialize in nutrition for specific populations such as women's health—including prenatal and postnatal nutrition (during and after pregnancy)—and pediatric nutrition.

Nutritionists who aren't board-certified dietitians or healthcare providers with medical training may offer services like meal plans and weight loss counseling. These nutritionists might be able to provide basic nutrition information. However, they may not have the specific knowledge and training to recommend nutritionally balanced diet plans tailored specifically to your needs.

Types of Nutritionists

As mentioned above, there are many types of dietitian-nutritionists. Here are some of the most common types.

Clinical Dietitian

Clinical dietitians work in hospitals with the rest of the healthcare team, including doctors and nurses, to develop nutrition-based plans for patients under the hospital's care. Dietitians may work in specific hospital areas, such as the intensive care unit (ICU) or the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Dietitians who work in hospital settings perform a number of services and are an integral part of the medical team. They assess nutrition needs, recommend medical nutrition therapy, and identify patients at risk for developing malnutrition by performing Nutrition Focused Physical Exams (NFPEs). This is a type of physical exam used to assess a patient's nutritional status and evaluate for malnutrition.

Private Practice Dietitian

Private practice dietitians are dietitians who counsel patients in person or virtually. They commonly specialize in one or more medical conditions or work with specific populations such as:

• Children and teens
• People with specific health concerns like GI conditions, heart disease, or autoimmune disorders
• People with general wellness or weight loss goals (e.g., meal planning, healthy living, and supplementation)

These dietitians often have additional training. For example, a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) focuses on diabetes prevention, treatment, and management.

Dietitians and other healthcare providers who work in private practice often accept medical insurance, meaning that your nutritional counseling session may be covered fully or partially by your insurance provider. If they do not accept your insurance, you may still get reimbursed after submitting a superbill. This is filled out by the dietitian and includes your diagnosis.

Nutritionists who aren't RDs, doctors, or other licensed health professionals can't participate in medical insurance.

Dietitian Specializations and Settings

Board-certified specialty credentials for dietitians include the following:

• Gerontological nutrition (CSG): Older adults
• Sports dietetics (CSSD): Athletes and active adults
• Pediatric nutrition (CSP): Infants, children, adolescents
• Renal nutrition (CSR): Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Oncology nutrition (CSO): Cancer
• Diabetes nutrition (CDCES): Diabetes

Dietitians can take many career paths, including:

• Working in schools, long-term care settings, or medical offices
• Conducting research for food or pharmaceutical companies
• Working in communities to teach healthy eating habits or work on public policies focused on nutrition and health (e.g., developing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans)
• Working in education or academia (e.g., research, public speaking)
• Working in media (e.g., print or digital journalism, television, podcasts) or with specific product brands
• Working as a culinary dietitian, developing recipes and analyzing nutrients (e.g., in a kitchen, spa, or resort)
  
• Working with professional athletes or sports teams

Dietitians may also pursue a health coach credential to strengthen their skillsets in the areas of goal-setting and behavior change.

Nutritionist Settings

People who work as nutritionists but who aren't RDs or RDNs may work in similar settings as dietitians—but with a different scope of practice (e.g., general guidance versus individualized meal plans). They may offer their services online or in person and sometimes work in wellness settings such as spas and gyms.

Going to the Nutritionist

There are many reasons why a person may seek the help of a registered dietitian-nutritionist. For example, you may want to:

• Develop a healthier eating pattern
• Lose excess body fat
• Gain weight
• Build muscle mass
• Get support in preventing or treating conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, GI conditions, autoimmune diseases, or nutrient deficiencies

Some people may require a dietitian who specializes in specific diseases and health conditions like cancer or eating disorders (e.g., bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder) or a dietitian who focuses on specific populations, such as children and pregnant women.

You may decide to work with a dietitian on your own or a healthcare provider may recommend working with one to support a specific medical condition or other aspects of your health, such as your body composition.

What To Expect

Every dietitian is different and treatment varies depending on your health condition. For example, dietitians who focus on weight loss use a different counseling approach than dietitians who work with people who have eating disorders.

In general, a dietitian will ask you questions about your medical history, your relationship with food, and your current and past eating habits. They will review blood work and other medical test results when appropriate.

Depending on why you're seeing a dietitian, they may help you:

• Shift your eating patterns
• Add or remove certain supplements and foods from your current dietary pattern
• Provide helpful recommendations for reaching your health and wellness goals

Dietitians who focus on specific health conditions may ask you to monitor certain aspects of your health, such as your blood glucose (sugar) levels, sensations of hunger and fullness, and bowel movements.

Every dietitian is different. Their questions, recommendations, and opinions on diet and weight can vary significantly. If you don't feel comfortable with the care you're receiving, you can always find another dietitian who better aligns with your specific health needs, personality, and goals.

How To Prepare

If you've decided to make an appointment with a nutritionist, take the time to narrow down the best providers in your area. In general, seek counseling from an RD board-certified by the CDR or a healthcare provider such as a doctor or nurse practitioner with additional training in nutrition—especially if you're seeking support for a specific medical condition.

You can read patient reviews on sites like Healthgrades or ask a trusted healthcare provider for a recommendation. Many private practice dietitians offer a free introductory phone consultation to help you decide whether they're a good fit for your specific needs.

Once you've found a dietitian to work with, they will likely ask you to:

• Fill out introductory paperwork on your health and nutrition history
• Send them recent bloodwork and other recent results
• Keep track of your dietary intake for 1-2 weeks before your appointment

After the initial meeting, you will plan future appointments depending on factors like your health condition and goals.

A Quick Review

Nutritionist is a general term used to describe healthcare providers who specialize in nutrition. Dietitians (RDs, RDNs) are healthcare providers who have completed extensive nutrition education, training, and credentialing. This allows them to work in hospitals and other medical settings as well as offer private nutritional counseling.

If you're interested in working with a dietitian-nutritionist, narrow down experienced providers in your area. In general, avoid unqualified nutritionists without credentialed education or medical training, especially if seek support for a specific medical condition.

Uncredentialed nutritionists may be able to provide general nutrition information and valuable support, but they're not qualified to create specific meal plans or diagnose or treat conditions.