Why are we qualified to give nutrition advice?
Melanie & Rebecca are both registered dietitians. So, what is a dietitian then?.....
A dietitian is someone who has demonstrated certain skills and knowledge as pertaining to the field of nutrition. A dietitian has sufficient schooling, practice, training in motivation, and psychology as pertaining to nutrition and food which would qualify them to be nutrition experts. We must meet strict standards set forth by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the world's leading group of food and health professionals) to become registered dietitians. Sure, this excludes people who have an interest and have experience improving their own diet/lifestyle, people with nutrition degrees, and other professionals. But, to protect the public, someone with a condition that affects their nutritional status or restricts their diet, that person needs an expert who can guide them to be nutritionally adequate through reasonable and evidence based tips. Because nutrition, health, and body image issues are so complex, having the appropriate tools is necessary to help populations maintain nutritional adequacy in their diets. This is where dietitians come in, we have the tools and ability to present research in a an understandable way for those not previously trained in nutrition, for the general population.
And, here is what the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says: _
What do the credentials mean?
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist: someone who has meet the requirements set forth by the credentialing arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). They have pursued higher education via an accredited program, completed a dietetic internship, and sat for the national registration exam.
CD (certified dietitian), LD/N (Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist): Many states require certification or licensure to practice. So depending on which state a dietitian is practicing in, determines their other credential. For example Melanie and Rebecca both practice in the state of Utah, which requires certification. This is why we have a CD following our RD designation. AND states that: Licensing/certification of dietitians and nutritionists protects the public health by establishing minimum educational and experience criteria for those individuals who hold themselves out to be experts in food and nutrition. The state has an obligation to protect the health and safety of the public and licensing of dietitians and nutritionists is consistent with this obligation.
Why is this important?
I'm not as good with words as the people over at the Academy, so here's what they say (& I echo their opinion!)
With the explosion of interest in healthy eating and nutrition, consumers have been faced with a dizzying array of products and information. The
public deserves to know that the information being given by “experts” is based on science and is being given by individuals with appropriate
education and experience. This is especially true of individuals who have medical conditions, which could be adversely affected by improper
nutrition counseling. Several states have documented cases of unqualified individuals giving improper nutritional advice, which has harmed patients.
Unfortunately, many cases of healthcare fraud are never reported. A Congressional study on Quackery noted that state offices on aging ranked
healthcare fraud (quackery) first as the area of abuse of most concern and with the greatest impact on seniors. The report also acknowledged that
the great majority of cases are never reported. (Quackery: A $10 Billion Scandal; US Government Printing Office Pub. # 98-135; pp.176-178).
In essence, it is to protect you, the general public from unrealistic and unfounded claims. Good and balanced nutrition can help us stay healthy and active, but improper nutrition can be very detrimental to individuals especially those with nutrition/diet related conditions.
What is a nutritionist? Some Registered Dietitians call themselves nutritionists, because it seems to better explain what we do! But, not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. There are no standard requirements or criteria to becoming a nutritionist. A nutritionist could be someone working in the personal training/exercise field, read a diet book, lost a significant amount of weight, someone with a degree in nutrition, or a registered dietitian. To protect yourself, see a Registered Dietitian, they've proven that they have the knowledge and skills to help you become healthier through reasonable dietary changes and encourage you to make positive and healthful lifestyle changes.
A dietitian is someone who has demonstrated certain skills and knowledge as pertaining to the field of nutrition. A dietitian has sufficient schooling, practice, training in motivation, and psychology as pertaining to nutrition and food which would qualify them to be nutrition experts. We must meet strict standards set forth by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the world's leading group of food and health professionals) to become registered dietitians. Sure, this excludes people who have an interest and have experience improving their own diet/lifestyle, people with nutrition degrees, and other professionals. But, to protect the public, someone with a condition that affects their nutritional status or restricts their diet, that person needs an expert who can guide them to be nutritionally adequate through reasonable and evidence based tips. Because nutrition, health, and body image issues are so complex, having the appropriate tools is necessary to help populations maintain nutritional adequacy in their diets. This is where dietitians come in, we have the tools and ability to present research in a an understandable way for those not previously trained in nutrition, for the general population.
And, here is what the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says: _
What do the credentials mean?
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist: someone who has meet the requirements set forth by the credentialing arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). They have pursued higher education via an accredited program, completed a dietetic internship, and sat for the national registration exam.
CD (certified dietitian), LD/N (Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist): Many states require certification or licensure to practice. So depending on which state a dietitian is practicing in, determines their other credential. For example Melanie and Rebecca both practice in the state of Utah, which requires certification. This is why we have a CD following our RD designation. AND states that: Licensing/certification of dietitians and nutritionists protects the public health by establishing minimum educational and experience criteria for those individuals who hold themselves out to be experts in food and nutrition. The state has an obligation to protect the health and safety of the public and licensing of dietitians and nutritionists is consistent with this obligation.
Why is this important?
I'm not as good with words as the people over at the Academy, so here's what they say (& I echo their opinion!)
With the explosion of interest in healthy eating and nutrition, consumers have been faced with a dizzying array of products and information. The
public deserves to know that the information being given by “experts” is based on science and is being given by individuals with appropriate
education and experience. This is especially true of individuals who have medical conditions, which could be adversely affected by improper
nutrition counseling. Several states have documented cases of unqualified individuals giving improper nutritional advice, which has harmed patients.
Unfortunately, many cases of healthcare fraud are never reported. A Congressional study on Quackery noted that state offices on aging ranked
healthcare fraud (quackery) first as the area of abuse of most concern and with the greatest impact on seniors. The report also acknowledged that
the great majority of cases are never reported. (Quackery: A $10 Billion Scandal; US Government Printing Office Pub. # 98-135; pp.176-178).
In essence, it is to protect you, the general public from unrealistic and unfounded claims. Good and balanced nutrition can help us stay healthy and active, but improper nutrition can be very detrimental to individuals especially those with nutrition/diet related conditions.
What is a nutritionist? Some Registered Dietitians call themselves nutritionists, because it seems to better explain what we do! But, not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. There are no standard requirements or criteria to becoming a nutritionist. A nutritionist could be someone working in the personal training/exercise field, read a diet book, lost a significant amount of weight, someone with a degree in nutrition, or a registered dietitian. To protect yourself, see a Registered Dietitian, they've proven that they have the knowledge and skills to help you become healthier through reasonable dietary changes and encourage you to make positive and healthful lifestyle changes.