Health and well-being require a balanced diet. When you want to adopt better eating habits, calling on a professional is often essential. But how to choose between a nutritionist and a dietician? To answer this question, it is appropriate to examine their training paths, their scope of action and the specific needs of your situation.
Training and qualification of nutrition professionals
In order to fully understand the differences between these two professions, let’s take a detailed look at their respective training.
Nutritionist: a doctor specializing in nutrition
THE nutritionist is above all a doctor having completed a complete medical course. After obtaining his Doctor of Medicine degree, he specialized in nutrition with additional training of one to two years. This allows him to acquire specific skills to advise his patients and prevent or treat eating disorders. The nutritionist is therefore registered with the Order of Physicians and can prescribe medications if necessary.
Dietitian: an expert in food and dietetics
THE dietitian, for his part, is a paramedical technician specializing in the composition and quality of food, as well as in food education. To work as a dietitian, it is necessary to obtain the BTS Dietetics or the DUT Biological Engineering dietetics option, followed by two years of professional practice. This professional has a solid knowledge of foods and can develop diets adapted to individual nutritional needs, but cannot prescribe medications.
In both cases, these specialists’ mission is to inform, support and advise their patients in improving their diet.
The scope of action of nutritionists and dietitians
If the training differs between these two professions, their daily involvement with their patients is also distinct.
The role of the nutritionist
As mentioned previously, the nutritionist being a doctor, he can screen, diagnose and treat nutritional disorders. It intervenes in particular in the event of:
- Overweight and obesity
- Diabetes
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Digestive, thyroid or kidney problems
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Risk of malnutrition in the elderly
The nutritionist can also intervene to optimize sports performance or prepare for a significant change in diet. (vegetarianism, gluten intolerance, etc.).
The role of the dietitian
The dietitian is the specialist in the composition of foods and the creation of personalized diets. He supports his patients in:
- Weight loss or gain
- General nutritional balance
- Managing food allergies and intolerances
- Prevention of certain pathologies through better nutrition
- Supporting athletes to improve their performance
Its action mainly focuses on food education in the form of dietary advice, practical workshops or activities around food.
How to choose between a nutritionist and a dietitian?
Faced with the numerous nutritional service offerings, it can be difficult to make an informed choice. Here are some criteria to take into account to help you find the professional who will best meet your needs.
Do you need medical treatment?
If your nutritional problem requires specific medical monitoring or the prescription of medication, it will be preferable to consult a nutritionist since he or she has all the required skills.
Are you simply looking to rebalance yourself or improve your sporting performance?
If you are looking for advice on simply eating better, losing a little weight or adapting your diet to your sporting activities, the dietician is the specialist who will be able to support you in these steps.
Monitoring and availability of professionals
Feeling well supported and listened to during nutritional monitoring is fundamental. Find out about the practitioners’ working methods and don’t hesitate to compare them to find the one with whom you will be most comfortable.
In summary, the choice between a nutritionist and a dietitian will be made according to your specific needs and your expectations.. It is important that you feel confident with the chosen professional to work effectively on your diet and thus improve your health and quality of life.