The 3 differences between a nutritionist and a dietician

Two specialties in the world of food and wellness, but... how do they differ?

Food is one of the basic pillars for our survival, and one of the most important aspects in the maintenance of our health. It is also part of our cultural identity, and influences our image and self-concept. However, although eating is a pleasure, a large part of the population does it in a way that does not meet their needs. This is why the figure of a nutritionist or dietician is necessary.

Both professionals are often confused or even integrated in the same profession (it is not infrequent to hear of a nutritionist or a dietician). (it is not uncommon to hear of a dietician-nutritionist), but the truth is that they are not the same type of professional nor do they necessarily do the same things. In this article we will look at the main differences between a nutritionist and a dietitian.

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Nutritionist and dietitian: what are we talking about?

To understand the differences between nutritionist and dietitian we must first know how each of the terms is defined, as well as the purpose of each of these professions.

Nutritionist

In the case of the nutritionist profession (sometimes also called dietitian-nutritionist), we are dealing with professionals who have studied a degree or bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at university level (or have specialized in this field within medicine).

Nutritionists are trained in such a way that they are experts in nutrition (i.e., not in eating but in the nutrients and elements that are obtained with it and how they affect the body) and in dietary guidelines focused on the patient's needs, regardless of whether the patient is healthy or otherwise suffering from some kind of disorder or disease.

It is advisable to use their services for those who suffer from some kind of medical (e.g. diabetes) or psychiatric (in the case of bulimia or anorexia nervosa) disease.

Dietitian

As for the dietician is a professional focused on the process of eating as such: the act of eating.. Their main function is the establishment of appropriate dietary and activity guidelines, generally applicable to most of the population depending on aspects such as weight, height and what goals they have. However, their training mainly qualifies them to serve the population without serious health problems. Their training is more limited, generally based on courses and advanced modules in Dietetics that tend to last between several months and two years.

Similarities between the two groups

As we can see, both have very palpable similarities: both nutritionist and dietitian work with the aim of promoting and maintaining health through the management of intake and nutrition. In both cases, specialized training is also required.

In both cases, they may also be involved in research, educational counseling and marketing in addition to direct client contact. The similarities are quite marked: in fact, instead of differentiating between the two, they are often referred to as dietitian-nutritionists. (although their training would be that of the aforementioned nutritionist), but this does not imply that there are not also differences.

Main differences

Although with the definition of both terms it is possible to perceive most of the existing differences between nutritionists and dietitians, it is useful to make them explicit. Thus, we can find that the main differences between the two fields are the following.

Level of training

One of the most notorious differences between nutritionists and dietitians is the level of training required to obtain this qualification. to obtain this qualification. In Spain, the nutritionist must have completed university studies in the form of a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or have specialized in this field during medical studies. As for dietitians, their training tends to be of a shorter duration, and they take modules in dietetics vocational training that qualify them as dietetic technicians.

2. Type of user

As we have seen, people who go to a dietitian are generally people in good health or who do not suffer from diseases that require them to modify their dietary patterns. Ehe usual objective of this type of user is to lose weight or keep fit, although they may also participate in dietary counseling.The usual objective of this type of user is to lose weight or keep fit, although they may also be involved in marketing and educational advice or participate in multidisciplinary research.

On the other hand, nutritionists tend to be required not only by people with a normative level of health but also by those with pathologies or altered states to be taken into account. For example, people with Heart problems, pregnancy, diabetes, psychiatric problems or chronic consumption of drugs that can cause severe alterations if combined with certain foods should consult a nutritionist. They can be part of the national health system.

3. Attachment to the General Health System

Although they may perform similar functions in some cases, only one of the branches is considered to be part of the National Health System.. In Spain, this is the figure of the nutritionist, whose training is more specialized and allows him/her to provide advice and intervention in cases of pathology.

Territorial differences in the consideration of one profession or the other

However, being one or the other also depends, among other things, on the country we are in and the legal regulations they have regarding the regulation of these professions. It is possible that the terms are not the same or even reversed.

This is what happens for example in the United States or the United Kingdom: a nutritionist would correspond to what in Spain we would call dietician and vice versa. In these countries the law protects the figure of the dietitian (or dietitian-nutritionist), who has to be registered with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and can be part of the health system. Nutritionists are not required to be registered and have less consideration, but voluntary registration associations have been formed.

But these are not the only countries where these differences exist. For example, in countries such as Mexico there is a difference between nutritionist (equivalent to the Spanish dietician in terms of training and competencies) and nutritionist (corresponding to our nutritionist, with a higher level of training and specialization).