What does a Dietitian do?

 I’m sure you have asked yourself the same question, “What does a Dietitian do other than provide meal plans?”. You’re not alone. Dietitians are “a professional who applies the science of food and nutrition to promote health, prevent and treat disease to optimise the health of individuals, groups, communities and populations”. Let me clarify this further for you.

5 things you should know about a Dietitian.

1: A Dietitian can provide you with a meal plan and off you go.

They also consider the factors that might influence your dietary intake and relationship with food. A Dietitian’s job is to ensure you receive personalised advice for your current situation, lifestyle, medical concerns/disease and much more.

Keyword, personalised.

2: Dietitians help you manage many chronic and acute health conditions through diet.

Whether that’s Diabetes, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, Food Allergies and Intolerances, Malnutrition, Obesity, Gastrointestinal Disease and many more. Dietitians work within multiple settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics private practice, aged care, communities, or at a population level.

3: There is a difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist.

Dietitians are graduates with a master’s or bachelor’s degree at university, whereas Nutritionist qualifications aren’t regulated. To withhold the “Accredited Practising Dietitian” status, or “APD”, Dietitians must commit to many hours of continuing professional development each year, to support ongoing learning and growth. This ensures they are continuously up to speed with the latest evidence and research. Only dietitians are recognised by Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and private health funds.

4: Nutrition education and behaviour change advice are our bread and butter.

This is how we help people make healthy food choices and form healthy eating habits. As habits do not appear at the click of a finger, Dietitians are there to provide you with the support, information, tools and tips to help you make it happen!

Keyword, help.

5: Dietitians emphasise healthy eating easily and sustainably.

Whether that may be through meal plans, recipe ideas, shopping lists, personalised eating plans, nutrition analysis or just a friendly ear when you want to talk about your relationship with food, the list can go on. To ensure the end goal is achievable and realistic, Dietitians use the SMART approach within their goal setting, developing goals so they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. The research behind using this criterion shows optimal success for reaching your goals.

By Amber-Leah Schilder,   Accredited Practising Dietitian