Dietitians and nutritionists counsel patients on nutrition issues. Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.

What can I expect from a dietitian?

An initial nutrition consultation takes approximately one hour. During this time, the dietitian needs to gather pertinent information, calculate nutrient needs and develop an individualized meal plan to allow for gradual weight loss via subtle changes to a client's eating style that will hopefully last a lifetime.

Is seeing a dietitian worth it?

Researchers report that a registered dietitian may be the best way for many people to lose weight. In their study, the researchers say people who used a dietitian lost an average of 2.6 pounds while those who didn't use a dietitian gained 0.5 pounds.