Dietitian vs. Nutritionist: What’s the Difference?

In a world dominated by social media, we all see our fair share of “what I eat in a day” videos. Usually they consist of an individual showcasing not only what they ate that day - but, usually, their impeccable physique as well. So, you’re telling me that if I eat the exact same things that this person on Tik Tok ate, that I, too, will miraculously develop a six-pack? In short - the answer is no - but the allure of it is just too hard to resist. Oftentimes, these six-pack possessing, healthy food eating, gym going influencers refer to themselves as “nutritionists” and we take that at face value to mean that they have an in-depth knowledge of nutrition - I mean, they have abs and they’re calling themselves “nutritionists”. They must know something - right?

Dietitian vs. nutritionist - both terms seem to be used interchangeably - and why shouldn’t they be? Aren’t all dietitians nutritionists and all nutritionists dietitians? In short, the answer is a hard NO, and you might want to refrain from ever referring to a registered dietitian as a “nutritionist.”

As a recent graduate of a master’s program in nutrition and dietetics, I can assure you that the titles of “dietitian” and “nutritionist” could not be more different. Let’s dive into some of those differences…

Becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)

Becoming a RDN is no easy feat. In fact, it requires the following:

• A bachelor’s degree in a science-related field. In my case, I got an undergraduate degree in Risk Management and International Business - AKA, I had pretty much never taken a college-level science course in my life. Before I could begin a nutrition graduate program, I had to take the following prerequisite courses:

  • Biology (1 & 2)

  • Chemistry (1 & 2)

  • Anatomy and Physiology (1 & 2)

  • Microbiology

  • Organic Chemistry

  • Biochemistry

  • Basic Nutrition

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy

  • Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolism

• For almost 2 years, all I was doing was taking the above prerequisite courses. After completing those, I was finally able to begin my graduate-level degree in nutrition.

• Upon graduating with a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, I was accepted into a dietetic internship at Children’s Hospital of Colorado.

• A dietetic internship consists of 1200+ hours of supervised practice through an accredited internship program. Aspiring RDNs are only allowed to complete a dietetic internship if they have been granted a graduate-level degree.

• Upon completion of all the above, aspiring RDNs can sit for the RDN credentialing exam. Once passed, congratulations, you’re finally able to call yourself a dietitian.

• However, after passing the exam, RDNs must complete continuing education credits to keep their licensure active.

Becoming a nutritionist

Decide that you want to be referred to as a nutritionist.

Really though, it’s as simple as that! “Nutritionist” is not a protected title, so truly anyone can refer to themselves as nutritionists. This is why nutritionists on social media are so dangerous to take advice from - because, most of the time, they have little to no knowledge about what the science of nutrition actually is.