What is the Difference Between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
This is a question I get asked all the time, and I wanted to make a post to help you understand the difference between a Dietician and a Nutritionist.
When I asked a friend what she thought the difference was, her response was a Dietician focuses on the diet, and a Nutritionist focuses on the nutrients. Her explanation is logical but far from reality. This article clears up the confusion and helps you understand their differences.
What is a Dietitian?
A dietitian has typically completed a Master’s in Dietetics, which includes up to a year of supervised practice within a healthcare facility or community setting. Dietitians can become full members of Dietitians Australia (DA) and join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program.
What is a Nutritionist?
Unlike dietitians, the title “Nutritionist” is not legally protected, meaning anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of their qualifications. As such, the skill set of Nutritionists can vary far and wide.
However, many nutritionists have formal education and relevant degrees. For example, I have a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Endeavour College of Natural Health (ECNH).
While nutritionists cannot join DA or APD, they can be part of professional bodies like the Australian Natural Therapies Association (ANTA) and the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), which accept members from recognised courses.
Are Dietitians More Qualified than Nutritionists?
Short answer- not necessarily.
The reason I say not necessarily is generally a Dietician who calls themselves “Dietician and Nutritionist) completes a 3-5 year degree whereby they receive the nutrition qualification during the first three years. Students can then elect to complete a dietetics component whereby different universities offer either a research focus or placements in hospital/community settings.
To graduate as a “Nutritionist” from ECNH, we are required to complete our theory learnings in addition to 300+ hours of clinical practice. As part of our clinical practice, we must manage our own cases within a supervised clinic (i.e. we take our patients cases and provide them with a treatment plan). Furthermore, we are an evidence-based practice which means we spend time formulating treatment plans based on the most up to date research and are constantly evolving.
(Please note that I am speaking on behalf of my own educational experiences at Endeavour College. I cannot comment on the quality, course structure, and graduate skill set of other university offerings).
In Summary
When choosing between a dietitian and a nutritionist, check their qualifications and educational background. Not all nutritionists are unqualified—many run evidence-based practices and hold degrees.
