Community Voices for Health

By Tayla Carter, MS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian II, Signature Healthcare

In the age of social media and influencers, it feels like everywhere you look someone is promoting a new diet or nutrition product. It can get confusing and overwhelming and may leave you wondering, where does anyone find reliable information about health and nutrition these days?

Here are some tips for seeking factual and reliable nutrition information:

1. Check the source – if someone is making a claim, ask yourself a few questions. Are they sharing where that information is coming from? Are they sharing findings from actual research studies? If not, you may want to do a bit of research on your own, to see if you can find any information from reliable sources to back up what this person is saying.
2. Be wary of anyone who is also trying to sell you something — if someone is promoting something such as a diet program or nutrition supplement, the information they are providing may have an ulterior motive. Their goal is to present you with a problem, and then provide you a solution (which is buying their product!).
3. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is — always question if someone is promising you a “quick fix”. For most things related to diet and lifestyle, there is no quick fix or magic pill. Sustainable change takes time and effort, and there is no “one size fits all” solution.
4. Lastly, look for articles or videos made by health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc. For nutrition information, look for the nutrition experts — Registered Dietitians (RDs) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs).

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

When seeking nutrition information, it is best to get advice from professionals. Dietitians must go through very specific and specialized training to obtain their credentials. In stark contrast, there is no regulated definition for the term “nutritionist”; anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of their credentials or training. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Registered Dietitians (RDs) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are “food and nutrition experts with a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program and who completed a supervised practice requirement, passed a national exam and continue professional development throughout their careers. In addition to RDN credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners.” The graphic below from the California State University at Northridge’s Margam Center Nutrition Experts Blog outlines some of the differences:

RDNs are qualified to work in a variety of settings and roles. See some examples below:

• Perform medical nutrition therapy as part of the healthcare team in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities.
• Manage food service operations in hospitals, school districts, colleges and universities, long-term care facilities, day-care centers, correctional facilities, and more — overseeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to setting menus and managing staff.
• Consult with food companies,  food service or restaurant managers, food vendors and distributors, nursing home residents, or company employees in corporate wellness programs.
• Develop public awareness campaigns in community and population health settings to improve people’s quality of life through healthy eating habits.
• Help athletes, police forces, firefighters, and members of the military understand the connection between food, fitness, and performance in the field.
• Work in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, or product development for food and nutrition-related businesses and industries.
• Educate physicians, nurses, dietetics students, and other health practitioners on the sophisticated science of nutrition and dietetics in universities and medical centers.
• Conduct dietetics research to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.

Dietitians are an important part of your healthcare team. We know that each person’s nutrition-related choices are influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, culture, food preferences, food allergies and diet restrictions, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, availability and access, and more. Our recommendations will always be evidenced-based and personalized to keep the individual in mind. Are you interested in meeting with a dietitian at Signature Healthcare? Check out our brochure for more information about the nutrition clinic!

Sources: https://www.eatright.org/about-rdns-and-ndtrs