Naturopath, Dietitian and Nutritionist Compared

Information only. If you have diabetes, kidney disease, a food allergy, an eating disorder or are pregnant, ask your doctor before changing how you eat, and do not stop prescribed medicines because of diet advice.

Why these titles get mixed up

All three may talk with you about food, so people often assume they are interchangeable. They are not. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics notes that in a national consumer survey more than one in four adults believed dietitians and nutritionists are the same. [1] The useful question is not which title sounds better, but what training and regulation sit behind the specific title in your location.

United States

• Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN or RD). The Academy says a person must complete an accredited nutrition and dietetics program and supervised practice, earn a graduate degree, then pass a national exam. [1] The Bureau of Labor Statistics says many states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed, others require only registration or certification to use certain titles, and a few have no regulation. [2]
• "Nutritionist." The Academy says the title alone may not tell you what education or training someone has, and that requirements vary by state. [1] The Academy states that every registered dietitian is a nutritionist, but not every nutritionist is a registered dietitian. [1]
• Naturopath. A licensed naturopathic doctor completes graduate-level education at an accredited naturopathic medical school, while a traditional naturopath may train in non-accredited programs and is not eligible for licensing. [3] Naturopathic practitioners may use dietary and lifestyle changes among many approaches. [3] AANMC says accredited ND curricula include nutrition. [4]

United Kingdom

The British Dietetic Association says the title "dietitian" is protected by law and requires registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. [5] It says a registered nutritionist belongs to the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, with a degree accredited by the Association for Nutrition, and that this register is voluntary. [5] Naturopathy is one of the disciplines listed by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, which describes itself as a voluntary regulator rather than a membership organisation. [6]

Canada

Dietitians of Canada states that "dietitian" is a protected title across Canada and "nutritionist" is also protected in Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia. [7] It also says titles such as Registered Holistic Nutritionist are not the same as Registered Dietitian and do not indicate a provincially regulated health professional. [7] That is the dietitians' professional body describing its own field. In Ontario, the regulator says "naturopath" is a protected title. [8]

Side by side

Overlap and coordination

Each may give advice on eating, and the advice can overlap. Where a practitioner also sells supplements, ask about it; see supplements dispensed in naturopathic and integrative practice. Tell every professional about the others. For more on titles and regulation, see dietitians, nutritionists and holistic nutritionists and nutrition counseling in naturopathic care.