Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1224
Dietitian vs Nutritionist
12/31/2018 at 10:15 AM
Just to clarify. In Manitoba anyone who calls themselves a nutritionist is not legally bound to actually have any training in nutrition. They may not know what they are talking about or they may push fad diets and base their information on false facts. It is buyer beware with someone who calls themselves a nutritionist. It is a good idea to check their credentials. There can be good and bad nutritionists out there. They should not however be giving advice on medical nutrition like for heart disease or diabetes etc. For this you need a dietitian.
A dietitian is a legally bound profession with at least up to 4 years of university education plus a year of internship at an accredited medical facility at which point they can register with the College of Dietitians of Manitoba. A practicing or registered dietitian has to maintain annual medical nutrition education to keep their registration as a dietitian.
These guidelines are in place to protect the public and ensure that dietitians give the best nutrition information that is known of today in all areas of nutritional health. It would be nice to have the title nutritionist registered as well.