Dietitian vs. Doctor: Where Should I Go for Nutrition Advice?

If you have questions about nutrition, you may wonder if it’s best to bring these up with your doctor or consult a registered dietitian. 

While doctors may provide general nutrition advice, dietitians are the nutrition experts on the healthcare team. 

Continue reading to learn the difference between doctors and dietitians and the type of care they provide. 

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Dietitians vs Doctors: Are They the Same?

Dietitians and doctors are both healthcare professionals but differ in their credentials, education, training, and the type of care they provide. 

Doctors are responsible for the medical management of health conditions and may sometimes provide general nutrition advice.

Dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy, a type of counseling centered on managing health conditions through dietary changes.

They provide in-depth and individualized nutrition care.

Credentials

Dietitians are credentialed through the Commission on Dietetic Registration and are recognized by the following titles: 

• Registered Dietitian (RD).
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). 

Physicians can earn one of the following credentials from the Federation of State Medical Boards. 

• Medical Doctor (MD).
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

Education and Training 

Registered dietitians must undergo the following education and training to earn and maintain their credentials:

• A graduate degree from an accredited nutrition program.
• At least 1,000 hours of supervised practice. 
• Pass a national exam. 
• Continuing education hours.

Dietitians receive comprehensive education in biology, chemistry, physiology, metabolism, nutrition science, and medical nutrition therapy.  

Education and training requirements are much more intensive to become a medical doctor, including: 

• Undergraduate degree. 
• MD or DO degree (four-year program).
• Residency (three to seven years, depending on the specialty).
• Pass a licensing exam. 
• Continuing medical education hours. 

It’s important to note that most doctors don’t receive extensive education in nutrition.

While many doctors may complete a nutrition course as part of their education, this is not a requirement for all medical schools. 

Focus

Doctors may counsel their patients on a healthy diet, but their primary focus is on medical-related treatments.

On the other hand, dietitians focus on nutrition education and helping clients implement diet and lifestyle changes. 

For example, imagine you’re seeing your doctor for high cholesterol.

Most of the visit will focus on managing this condition medically, such as prescribing cholesterol medications. 

Your doctor may recommend that you follow the Mediterranean diet for heart health.

They may give you a brief explanation or a basic handout about the diet.

Then, you may receive a referral to see a dietitian, or you can ask for one.

Your dietitian will assess your current diet and provide in-depth education on food choices for lowering cholesterol.

They can help you implement the Mediterranean diet in a way that suits your food preferences, lifestyle, cooking skills, and cultural background.

Your dietitian will also help you create realistic goals and offer follow-up visits to focus on building healthy habits over time. 

What Can a Dietitian Help Me With?

Dietitians can help with a wide range of nutrition and lifestyle concerns.

This includes providing individualized nutrition plans, education on healthy eating habits, and managing nutrition-related health conditions. 

Developing a Personalized Nutrition Plan

Because nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all approach, your dietitian will provide a personalized plan based on your unique situation, accounting for factors such as: 

• Medical history. 
• Dietary restrictions and food allergies. 
• Food preferences. 
• Lifestyle and schedule.
• Cultural background. 
• Level of motivation.
• Food budget. 

Educating on Healthy Eating Habits

Dietitians provide education on balanced nutrition and will work with you to create realistic goals to implement changes. 

You may see a dietitian for healthy eating advice if your goals include: 

• Improving energy levels. 
• Preventing health conditions like diabetes or heart disease. 
• Ensuring your nutrient needs, such as protein, iron, and calcium, are met. 
• Learning how to fuel your exercise properly.

Managing Chronic Conditions

While dietitians don’t medically manage health conditions (i.e, prescribe medications, order tests, etc.), they can offer nutritional advice to help manage specific health concerns. 

This type of counseling is known as medical nutrition therapy, and includes: 

• Prediabetes and diabetes. 
• Overweight and obesity. 
• Gastrointestinal conditions, like celiac disease and IBS.
• Kidney disease. 
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia). 
• High blood pressure (hypertension). 
• Eating disorders.

For example, medical nutrition therapy for prediabetes may include education on the types of carbohydrates to focus on, portion sizes, and exercise.

Support for Weight Loss or Gain

Whether you’re underweight or overweight, a dietitian can help you make realistic and sustainable changes to encourage a healthy weight. 

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What Can a Doctor Help Me With?

Doctors primarily focus on managing health conditions, including prescribing medications, referring patients to specialists, and ordering tests. 

Diagnosing and Treating Medical Conditions

A key difference between doctors and dietitians is that doctors are responsible for diagnosing medical conditions, while dietitians are not.

For example, a doctor may diagnose a patient with celiac disease and then refer them to a dietitian to discuss the necessary dietary changes. 

Doctors are also responsible for the medical management of health conditions, such as ordering labs and tests, prescribing medications, making referrals, and so on.

Prescribing Medications 

Doctors determine which medications are necessary and prescribe them.

They may also recommend dietary supplements. 

Dietitians don’t prescribe medications, though they may recommend over-the-counter dietary supplements. 

Referring to Specialists

Your primary care doctor oversees your medical care and refers you to specialists as needed.

For example, you may be referred to an endocrinologist to manage diabetes or a dietitian to manage IBS.

When Should I See a Dietitian vs. a Doctor for Nutrition Advice?

If you’re seeking nutrition advice, you may wonder whether you should talk to a doctor or a dietitian. 

A good rule of thumb is that a doctor can provide general advice on healthy eating, while dietitians provide in-depth nutrition education and help you implement dietary changes. 

If you have several nutrition concerns or have questions about managing a health condition through diet changes, it’s best to see a dietitian. 

Benefits of Working with Both a Dietitian and Doctor

In many cases, working with both a dietitian and a doctor is recommended, especially if you have a medical diagnosis that would benefit from diet and lifestyle changes. 

For example, if you have type 2 diabetes, you should work with your doctor on the proper medications and blood sugar goals.

Then, you can consult with a dietitian for advice on diet and lifestyle changes to help you meet those blood sugar goals. 

Tips for Keeping Your Dietitian and Doctor in Sync

If you’d like to see a dietitian, choosing a provider who works within the same healthcare system as your doctor can be helpful. 

This way, your doctor and dietitian can easily communicate about providing you with optimal care. 

If this isn’t an option, you can ask your doctor and dietitian to fax each other their chart notes between visits. 

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Takeaway

Doctors undergo extensive medical training to be able to diagnose and treat health conditions, while dietitians are nutrition experts who can help you manage certain health conditions through diet and lifestyle changes. 

Your doctor can provide general nutrition advice, but may refer you to a dietitian for more in depth and individualized information.

How a Dietitian Can Help

A dietitian can help you with a wide range of health conditions, life stages, and nutrition concerns, such as: 

• Prenatal nutrition.
• Diabetes prevention.
• Plant-based diet. 
• Managing IBS.
• Eating disorder treatment. 

Find a dietitian to receive nutrition education and goals that feels realistic and sustainable.