What is a Dietitian?
Published: 27 Mar 2015
Between what you hear on TV and read in books, magazines and on the internet; sorting nutrition fact from fiction can be challenging. But it doesn’t have to be. Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are more than just weight loss experts. APDs are university-qualified health professionals that provide expert diet and lifestyle advice to assist clients in preventing chronic disease, improving health and managing conditions. APDs use Medical Nutrition Therapy and translate the latest scientific information in the study of nutrition into practical, easy-to-follow nutrition advice. Dietitians also undertake ongoing training and education programs, which guarantees that they are the most up-to-date and credible source of nutrition information.
In order to assist clients in reaching their dietary goals, a dietitian provides support and the following services:
- Assessing nutritional needs and eating habits
- Develop personalised eating plans
- Provide sound, easy to follow nutrition advice
- Sorting fact from nutrition misinformation
- Supporting people to make healthy food choices
- Manage eating disorders, illnesses and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
- Shopping tours and label reading
- Group education sessions
- Advice regarding oral supplements
Why should I see a Dietitian?
Dietitians can be helpful for people who are seeking dietary advice to prevent disease or help manage a number of health conditions
- Weight management: lose, gain or maintain weight.
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular Diseases: high blood fats and high blood pressure
- Food allergies/intolerances
- Gastrointestinal health including management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Coeliac Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns Disease.
- Dietary management of osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Disordered eating
- Nutritional Support: oral, enteral, parenteral nutrition
- Disease prevention and/or general healthy eating advice to improve diet and lifestyle