Meeting with one of the registered dietitian/registered dietitian nutritionists at Lakewood helps provide nutritional diagnostic, therapy and counseling services intended to help you lose weight, and/or make better nutritional choices.
During your individual visit, you and your RD/RDN will:
- Review what you eat, and your eating habits
- Do a thorough assessment of your nutritional health
- Create a personalized nutrition treatment plan for you
Medical nutrition therapy may or may not require a referral from a primary medical provider. It also may or may not be covered by insurance, so talk with your insurance provider for details. Medicare patients will need a referral from a physician. Medicare only covers nutritional therapy for people with diabetes and renal disease.
A registered dietitian, or RD, is a food and nutrition expert accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They have completed an undergraduate program in nutrition, as well as a one-year clinical internship program. Registered dietitians must pass a national exam administered by the American Dietetic Association. They must also maintain their registered status through continuing education and advanced degrees/certifications for their areas of specialization.
Registered dietitians have the option to be called registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN), or registered dietitians (RD), depending on their preference.
A nutritionist may be someone who has completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition. On the other hand, there are those who market themselves as nutritionists, and may be selling “nutrition” products at health centers, supplement stores, or on-line. Be sure to check out the professional background and training of an individual before taking their nutrition advice.
A good rule to remember is: All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians.
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