It’s not unusual for people to believe that a dietician and a nutritionist basically do the same thing. But, when you take a close look at what’s involved in each of these professions, you’ll see they’re actually quite different!

It’s not just the day-to-day roles that differ, there’s also education and qualifications to consider. We’ll get to that later, for now let’s start by looking at what each of these roles typically involves on a daily basis.

What does a dietician do?

Quite a lot, actually!

Dieticians help to develop diet and nutrition programs tailored to individual or groups specific needs. They stay on top of the latest diet trends and make standardized recommendations to their patients.

But, dietitians typically work with more than just individual clients. They also work with various stakeholders within the health industry to help ensure best nutrition practices are being followed. 

Some examples would include; working with doctors to improve the eating habits of patients with complex health issues, collaborating with government departments to create new health strategies for the general population, and consulting with food industry leaders on food sustainability and production.

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In summary, some of the many duties performed by dieticians include:  

• Helping individuals to make the right food choices 
• Creating diet plans for individuals with health conditions (e.g., diabetes, allergies, obesity) 
• Advising officials on food-related policy developments 
• Educating individuals and organisations on nutrition programs, food safety storage, diet and drug interactions, and more 
• Conducting nutrition research

What does a nutritionist do?

Nutritionists are also very busy health professionals. As experts in food and nutrition, nutritionists advise people on how to live a healthier lifestyle and help them to achieve their health-related goals.

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Unlike dietitians, nutritionists primarily work with individual clients. When working with these clients, nutritionists typically perform the following duties:

• Developing diet and exercise plans for individual clients 
• Supporting clients through regular meetings and check-ins 
• Tracking clients’ progress and keeping them motivated to stick to diet plans 
• Promoting health and nutrition by giving presentations about the importance of food nutrition 
• Working with athletes to develop dietary plans that help them optimize their performance 
• Coordinating/leading cooking classes to educate people on preparing healthy meals and using nutritious ingredients

So, what are the main differences between a dietician and a nutritionist? 

Despite the differences you can see in the duties we’ve outlined above; the day-to-day activities of dieticians and nutritionists both focus on helping to improve the health of others.

However, there are some other general distinctions that can be made between the two professions, particularly in the areas of:

– Education and training

Dietitians typically hold a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or a related field. In many countries, dietitians are regulated by professional bodies or government agencies and are required to be registered or licensed.

The term nutritionist is used more broadly than dietician and doesn’t always require a specific degree. Many nutritionists have formal education and degrees in nutrition or related fields, while others might have completed shorter courses or certifications.

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– Focus and approach

Dietitians are trained to provide medical nutrition therapy for various health conditions. They often work alongside other healthcare professionals to develop nutrition plans that are tailored to a patient’s medical needs, taking into consideration factors like allergies, chronic diseases, and medications.

Dieticians typically work in clinical settings such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, and private practices.

While dietitians have a stronger medical focus, many nutritionists take a more holistic approach to nutrition and health, considering additional factors such as lifestyle and habits, stress levels, and overall well-being.

Nutritionists tend to focus on general health and wellness through diet and lifestyle changes. They usually work in settings like fitness centers, wellness programs, or community education initiatives — while many provide services as solo practitioners.

How nutritionists keep clients inspired using ABC Trainerize

Here at ABC Trainerize, we provide nutrition coaches with an all-in-one solution that manage all levels of nutrition coaching including meal tracking, meal planning and habit coaching.

You can offer the best possible client experience through meal photos, macro tracking, meal plans and daily habits— and all, easy to track in one single app.

Give clients hundreds of healthy meal combinations to choose from and keep them motivated to stay on-track by easily measuring progress and celebrating wins.

It’s all the nutrition coaching you need, all in one seamless app experience!

You can learn more about nutrition coaching with ABC Trainerize here — or get started with a FREE 30-day trial by clicking on the button below.