Difference between dietician and nutritionist: do you know their roles?
Both the nutritionist and the dietician are specialized in nutrition and both deal with healthy eating. It is precisely to them that we turn to when we try to lose or increase weight, to optimize our diet in specific cases and above all to adopt a good eating habit. But what is the difference between these two professions? Before continuing, watch this video that will make you smile: things that happen when you are on a diet.
Difference between dietician and nutritionist: training matters
The dietician is a doctor with a degree in Medicine and Surgery, and subsequently specialized after another four years of study in Nutrition Sciences. The dietician is what we could call a food "re-educator", who will help his patients find the right nutritional balance to allow them to lose or gain weight, or simply to have a healthier lifestyle. He is responsible for diagnosing any pathology and prescribing a diet, as well as medications and tests. From a professional point of view is the most qualified and most competent figure in the field of food and related disorders.
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The nutritionist, on the other hand, is a doctor with a degree in nutrition. Unlike the dietician with a short training, the latter received a minimum of 9 years of medical training. It happens that some of them also integrate a Masters in a more specialized field.
The nutritionist is a figure who deals with the relationship between diet, nutrition and the state of psychophysical well-being of the person. Nutritionists usually specialize in helping their patients overcome or manage different types of nutrition-related diseases: obesity, diabetes, anorexia, etc.
Just like a general practitioner, they will be able to provide you with a prescription, exams or doctor's visits if needed.
To deepen the difference between dietician and nutritionist we must also focus on another aspect. Both the two figures, can practice their profession in a doctor's office as freelancers. However, it is more common to meet a dietician within a local community such as a hospital or a school canteen. The nutritionist, on the other hand, can work at home, in a hospital setting, or even be an integral part of a medical team on a holistic problem.
For example, a nutritionist will be able to follow together with other specialists, patients who suffer from diabetes, eating disorders, deficiencies or whose treatment may have an impact on their metabolism.
How to choose between dietician and nutritionist?
First of all, these two health professionals are equally skilled in their field. To choose who to visit and who to contact, you have to consider your needs and the objectives you want to achieve.
It would be advisable to consult a nutritionist if you suffer from severe eating disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cholesterol. If you need to identify dietary deficiencies and carry out tests, a prescription from a nutritionist will be essential to receive any reimbursement. The nutritionist is a doctor and will therefore be able to cure these diseases.
Instead, go to a dietician if you want to lose or gain weight without serious health problems, or optimize your shape (for a sports follow-up for example) and request a diet plan, a diet in the broad sense, personalized.
The dietician will give you many tips on how to eat, will advise you which foods you should or should not eat, will tell you the quantities you need, will present menus for each meal based on your goals and your pace of life. It will also monitor your diet, also measure your body fat and muscle mass, making sure of your good health and dietary balance.
Difference between dietician and nutritionist: what are the prices?
When you decide to go to a dietician or a nutritionist, you must also consider the costs. Prices are roughly between € 50 and € 100 (or even more at times depending on your reputation and treatment progress) for a consultation with a nutritionist, only in some cases reimbursed by social security; and about 40 € - 90 € on average instead, with a dietician, who will reimburse the health insurance only in some cases. Inquiring with your primary care physician might be a good idea. Also, keep in mind that prices vary a lot depending on the city and center you go to.
