Nutritionists play an important role in many areas of health care. They work closely with patients, clients and a range of health care professionals to determine the best possible nutrition program for individuals, groups and communities. Your nutritionist can help you plan a healthy diet that can help prevent disease.
Credible Nutritionists
The title "nutritionist" is not regulated and is often misused by those who wish to market their services. The fact that someone calls himself a nutritionist does not mean he has nutritional expertise. According to the American Dietetic Association, only professionals who are registered with the organization and carry the RD (registered dietitian) or DTR (dietetic technician, registered) credential are recognized nutritionists with expertise in the nutrition field. Reputable nutritionists are also known as dietitians.
Main Role
The role of a nutritionist is to advise and work closely with individuals or groups on planning what foods to eat. Nutritionists develop nutrition programs, supervise the preparation of meals and ensure that the proper meals are served, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Besides providing guidance on what to eat, nutritionists also recommend what not to eat to prevent diet-related conditions like obesity and heart disease. Most states require nutritionists to become certified. Nutritionists can attain certification through the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board.
Clinical Dietitians
Clinical dietitians help hospital patients and the elderly in nursing care facilities by determining their nutritional needs. A clinical dietitian may also work at correctional or psychiatric institutions. They work in tandem with doctors and healthcare professionals to develop appropriate nutritional programming for patients, track their progress and report important findings. If you experience a stay in a hospital or nursing care setting, that stay will likely include a meeting with the facility's nutritionist.
Community Dietitians
Community dietitians work closely with individuals and community groups to promote healthy lifestyles and help prevent diseases. They typically work for community health care organizations or in-home health agencies, which cater to the disabled and the elderly. Community dietitians can review and evaluate your dietary needs, and then help with setting grocery shopping lists and teaching you how to prepare nutritious meals in the home.
Consultant Dietitians
Consultant dietitians operate on a freelance basis and are contracted by individuals, groups or health care organizations. Many consultant dietitians operate their own clinic, where they can perform nutrition screenings and run a number of dietary tests to help determine the needs of their patients. Much of a consultant dietitian's work focuses on weight-loss-oriented programming. As a consultant, a dietitian can also work with food service companies to evaluate sanitary conditions and develop a menu.
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