Podcast S1 Ep. 2: No One Knows Who Dietitians Are

It is unnerving how many medical professionals don’t know the difference between a Registered Dietitian (RD) and a nutritionist. It’s more understandable for everyday consumers, who are constantly bombarded with celebrity endorsements of protein shakes and random acquaintances pushing MLM supplements. 

There are a number of reasons that RDs get confused with nutritionists, and we believe it is our job as RDs to speak out on why it is important to see an RD for your nutritional needs.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the qualifications necessary to become an RD, how the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is at fault for misconceptions about RDs, and why consumers should work with an RD for their nutritional needs. We’re also discussing the importance of nutrition to health and recovery as well as how RDs can work to trust their intuition and experience and push against systemic setbacks to the profession.

At the end of the day, it’s up to dietitians to make noise, push the Academy to be better, and help educate consumers. Take charge of your ability to make change happen.

What’s in this episode:

• The difference in educational requirements between an RD and a nutritionist
• The importance of RDs to recovery (after surgery, injury, childbirth, etc.)
• How nutrition is fundamental above all else to your health and how your body functions
• The frustration that RDs aren’t always covered by insurance
• The overlooked importance of RDs to COVID patients on ventilators
• How the Academy is complicit in the lack of understanding of the RD profession
• Ways that the Academy could advocate for and make changes to the perception of RDs
• Why individual dietitians need to use their voice and experience to challenge outdated beliefs and lack of education
• Why consumers need to inform themselves on the validity of RDs and stop taking nutrition advice from unqualified individuals and entities