Sitting down with a registered dietitian (R.D.) is a chance to speak openly with an expert on food and nutrition and receive individualized and realistic guidance to support you as you work towards your health goals, whatever they may be! But if you’ve never met with an R.D. before, you might be wondering how the appointments usually go. Do you just go over your daily diet? Do you hear a long list of foods you can never eat again? Do you meet with them once and that’s it? Here are the answers to those questions and more.
Why see a registered dietitian?
You may be tempted to chalk up seeing an R.D. as a luxury — something you can do if you want but it won’t really impact your health all that much. But research shows dietitians can make a big difference. For example, one review of studies found that when people with type 2 diabetes met with an R.D., they had improved glycemic control and were better at managing their weight. Another review found that meeting with an R.D. regularly can improve cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure.
What can a registered dietitian help with?
Food choices can be confusing, which is why having an expert on your team to offer guidance and share practical tips can be so helpful. Here are some of the things a registered dietitian can help you do:
- Build habits for sustainable weight loss.
- Make healthy eating affordable, easy, and doable.
- Optimize your food choices to include a variety of nutrients.
- Understand best practices to prevent loss of lean muscle mass.
- Get answers to questions about food trends and misconceptions.
- Improve your relationship with food and your body.
- Design specific goals around nutrition and lifestyle habits.
What happens during a visit with a registered dietitian?
During your visit, your dietitian will likely ask you a lot of questions, including about your health and weight history, eating patterns, activity levels, and barriers to exercise or other healthy habits. Do you hate to cook? Are you a single parent with no free time? They may also ask about other lifestyle factors that could be impacting your health, like your stress levels and sleep patterns.
Then the dietitian will talk with you about your goals so that they can work with you to develop a personalized and sustainable eating plan that will help you reach them. You aren’t going to be told to banish your favorite foods, but instead will learn how to have a more balanced approach to eating. And while you can definitely meet with an R.D. just once, you may find it more helpful to check in regularly to go over any roadblocks or challenges that arise.
What makes a registered dietitian a nutrition expert?
Registered dietitians are required to have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition (and starting this year, they will be required to have a master’s degree), complete over 1,000 hours of supervised practice in the field of nutrition, pass a national board exam, and complete 75 continuing education credits every 5 years. R.D.s can choose to specialize in a range of health conditions including weight loss, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, gut health and digestive conditions, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and more. To compare, someone who calls themselves a nutritionist doesn’t need to have completed any of the above requirements.
Because of this training, registered dietitians are the only nutrition professionals who are legally allowed to practice Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), an evidence-based, individualized nutrition process meant to help treat certain medication conditions and lower the risk of complications.
How to find a registered dietitian
You can always ask your current primary care physician if they have a recommendation or check out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Find a Nutrition Expert tool, which lets you narrow down dietitians by location, specialty, and more. And if you’re a WeightWatchers’ member, you also have access to registered dietitians, who can provide personalized nutrition counseling to help you reach your own health goals.
The bottom line
A registered dietitian can help you see what’s working and what’s not working with your current diet, create a sustainable eating plan, and improve your overall health. When you meet with an R.D., they will likely ask a lot of questions about your lifestyle and will work with you to create a plan forward.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be regarded as a substitute for guidance from your healthcare provider.