The Great Debate: Dietitian vs Nutritionist
- OSCAR Care Group
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Should you see a Dietitian or should you see a Nutritionist?
What does a Dietitian do?
Accredited Practising Dietitians (APD) provide individualised dietary advice to improve nutritional health and optimise life. Dietitians understand the science behind nutrition and how it impacts the body.
In doing so, they can help and provide evidence-based advice for those with health conditions such as:
Diabetes
Cardiovascular diseases
Eating disorders
Food allergies and intolerances
Malnutrition
Obesity
Renal Disease
Respiratory diseases
Liver Disease
Gastrointestinal diseases
An APD will thoroughly investigate and consider a variety of aspects of a person’s health such as medical history, anthropometry, blood results, lifestyle, diet history, goals and needs. As Dietitians tend to work with those with medical conditions, they are qualified to work in hospitals, schools, childcare centres, the community setting, NDIS, private practices, aged care homes, sporting teams and canteens.
Dietitians also collaborate with medical professionals (i.e. Doctors and Nurses), other allied health professionals (i.e. Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists etc..) and care members (i.e. families, chefs, personal staff assistants, food service assistant) to find the best personalised solution for your nutritional needs.
What does a Nutritionist do?
A nutritionist may provide dietary advice, however, more to the general population. They also ‘design, coordinate, implement and evaluate population health interventions’ (Nutrition Australia, 2025) according to food and nutrition. Nutritionists may work in research, public health sectors and food industries to:
Review policies and regulations with the context of food
Ensure food safety standards are met in food manufacturers
Develop programs and strategies to address food concerns in the wider population
Consult individuals with their general nutritional health and wellbeing
Noting a Dietitian is also a Nutritionist and can do the above.
Is a Dietitian a Nutritionist and is a Nutritionist a Dietitian?
It can be really confusing as to who is who, and what each profession can offer. All Dietitians are Nutritionists, but a nutritionist cannot call themselves a Dietitian. Dietitians require accreditation from Dietitian Australia and are measured against the ‘National Competency Standards for Dietitians’.
There is no legal protection for the term ‘nutritionist’, and so many people can refer themselves as nutritionist. To ensure a nutritionist can properly call themselves a ‘nutritionist’, they may be registered with the Nutrition Society of Australia which requires them to be assessed for their qualifications and experience.
Are they the same? What's the difference?
Though the two professions have similarities, there are key differences!
Dietitians go through vigorous training, including a bachelor’s degree of 3 years and study by obtaining a 1-2 year-master’s degree, or a 4-5 year combined degree. During their studies, they complete work experience or placements in hospitals and community clinics to gain vital experience.
A nutritionist may also provide general nutritional advice such as healthy eating. However, without dietetic qualification, they cannot provide medical advice or medical nutrition therapy for those having medical conditions. A nutritionist’s qualifications may vary in levels from no qualification to a tertiary level.
Do I need to see both a dietitian and a Nutritionist?
Not necessarily, as Dietitians are also Nutritionists are qualified to providing tailored evidence-based nutrition advice.
When can a Nutritionist help?
If you need that extra basic support in understanding how to generally eat healthier according to the Australian Guide to Health Eating, a nutritionist can help you. There are many Nutritionists that can help with so much more than this, but do your due diligence and check if they have university-level qualifications such as a Bachelor of Nutrition or similar. There are many amazing qualified Nutritionists with a Masters of Nutrition who will provide evidence-based information, so if you are after a Nutritionist, these are the Nutritionists you can reach out to.
Stay away from those who are not university qualified, those who call themselves Nutritionists with no qualifications, or only short courses are not qualified to help you.
When can a Dietitian help?
A Dietitian can help with so much from recipes, menus, meal plans, diet support, health and nutrition support etc. You should also reach out to a Dietitian if you have been referred to by a doctor and require assistance in nutritional advice relating to your medical conditions.
This may include:
Prescribed meal plan and understanding carbohydrates for those with diabetes
Weight loss management in obesity/obese individuals
Education and prescribing oral nutritional supplements for malnutrition
Addressing foods related to allergies and intolerances
For those who have Medicare, private health insurance, or are a part of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), all or some of the cost of care may be covered.
At OSCAR Care Group, we have Accredited Practising Dietitians (who are also qualified Nutritionists) to support your nutritional goal and needs.
So, what is the verdict?
Often, many get confused between the difference between a Dietitian and Nutritionist.
Though both can provide dietary advice, Dietitians have qualifications to give medical nutritional therapy for those who have medical conditions. On the other hand, Nutritionists provide general dietary advice, as well as design and implement strategies to assist in healthy eating and wellbeing among the community as a whole.
Seeing a Dietitian gives you the confidence they are university qualified to give strong nutrition and personalised advice, and if seeing Nutritionists, just be sure to check that they are also university qualified.
We hope that helps. If you like an appointment with a Dietitian, reach out to our friendly team.
