WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NUTRITIONIST AND A REGISTERED DIETITIAN?

The term "nutritionist" is not legally regulated and therefore anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "every Registered Dietitian is a nutritionist but not every nutritionist is a Registered Dietitian."

The Institute of Medicine identified registered dietitians as qualified professionals for nutrition therapy. The "registered dietitian is currently the single identifiable grow pot health-care professionals with standardized education, clinical training, continuing education and national credentialing requirements necessary to be directly reimbursed as a provider of nutrition therapy."

What is "rd" and "rdn"?

RD stands for Registered Dietitian. Recently the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Board of Directors and the Commission on Dietetic Registration have approved the optional use of the credential "registered dietitian nutritionist" (RDN) by registered dietitians. RDN was established to more accurately reflect to consumers who registered dietitians are and what they do.