Jessica Mastor

Ms. Davis

English III Honors

22 February 2018

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

The United States remains fully aware of the ever-increasing obesity epidemic. Along

with obesity, comes added health consequences such as diabetes and heart disease. These

extreme health issues impact the lives of many, and change needs to occur in the nutrition and

health of the entire country. Registered dietitian nutritionists have an important role in the health

of the nation by continuing to study nutrition and its impact on the body, interacting with

individuals on a personal level, and working in a variety of settings in order to positively

influence the health of even more individuals.

People have studied nutrition since the days of ancient Greece. Hippocrates, a physician

in ancient Greece, believed that the gods did not cause diseases, but instead natural sources

caused diseases (Smith). This observation seems obvious to current nutritionists, but it opened

up a whole new world regarding nutrition and nutritional sciences at the time. Without this

primitive knowledge on the origin of disease, those who study nutrition today would presumably

have much less knowledge on this subject than they currently have. Hippocrates also believed in

using water as medicine, such as using cold water to reduce inflammation in joints (Suvajdžić).

This early form of using natural elements to improve one’s health parallels what registered

dietitian nutritionists teach today on the importance of eating clean and healthy. Historians often
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refer to Hippocrates as the father of medicine, and his knowledge of food and its impact on

human health paved the way for modern knowledge on health to exist in its current complexity.

Closer to the present day, scientists have discovered more advanced findings relating to

the study of nutrition. In the 1700’s, a man named James Lind concluded that certain sailors had

a vitamin-C deficiency, and in turn suffered from weakened blood vessels. He concluded that

lime juice, which contains vitamin-C, could cure the weakened blood vessels (Robert). Like

Lind, registered dietitian nutritionists today sometimes monitor the health of their clients by

measuring vitamin deficiencies. Findings similar to those of James Lind allow current

nutritionists to help their clients by having a sophisticated knowledge of essential vitamins and

nutrients needed to live a healthy lifestyle. Later on in the 1800’s, a German scientist by the

name of Justin Liebig analyzed organic compounds, which led to the discovery of the chemical

structure of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins (Brock). Studying carbohydrates, fats, and proteins,

and their impact on overall health remains an important subject of study for a registered dietitian

nutritionist. This knowledge gained from Liebig has allowed registered dietitian nutritionists to

not only study these nutrients, but to apply their studies to help clients figure out the ratios of

nutrients they need to consume in order to best suit their personal health needs.

Before receiving the title of a registered dietitian nutritionist, one must complete certain

academic requirements in the field of nutrition. An aspiring student must graduate from an

accredited bachelor’s degree program, finish an administered practice program, achieve a

passing score on a national exam, and stay up to date on continuing educational requirements

(“How to Become a Nutritionist”). These requirements exist not only for the benefit of the

client, but for the dietitian as well. The client benefits from the knowledge and schooling of the
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registered dietitian nutritionist, and the registered dietitian nutritionist becomes an educated and

credible individual in the field of nutrition. Students with majors in nutritional sciences often

take courses in food, nutrition, biology, chemistry, and even physiology (“Health Diagnosing and

Treating Practitioners”). This wide variety of courses enables students to obtain a career as a

registered dietitian nutritionist at hundreds of different universities across the country, and does

not limit their choices.

When in need of a local registered dietitian nutritionist, one must understand the

difference between a nutritionist and a registered dietitian nutritionist. While some nutritionists

do obtain the title of a “registered dietitian”, anyone can call him or herself a “nutritionist” even

without any prior qualifications (Butriss). This can cause issues for those who need a genuine

health advisor. One does not want to run into a situation where they receive information from a

so-called “nutritionist” who actually has none of the academic requirements discussed above. In

order to assure one received the proper education to become a registered dietitian nutritionist,

one must watch for the initials “R.D.” meaning “registered dietitian,” because they ensure that

the nutritionist has the appropriate educational requirements, has passed a national exam, and has

kept up to date with their continuing education requirements (“Diet Plan”). Typically, offices

will display the names of the professionals working there on the front door, so one could look for

the initials “R.D.” immediately after their names. This simple way of checking to make sure

someone has received appropriate training helps to eliminate the unfortunate situation of

receiving health advice from an unqualified source.

If one feels they need guidance in the health field, or they feel contacting a dietitian

would positively impact their life, a few things need to come into consideration. First, they need
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to consider getting a referral from their physician for a local registered dietitian nutritionist

(“Diet Plan”). Getting a referral would ensure that one receives proper knowledge from a

professional in the industry who acquired all the appropriate training and degrees necessary.

Also, some physicians like to know if their clients receive guidance from any other professionals

in the health field, so getting a referral would allow one’s physician to remain updated on their

client. Later on, when meeting the registered dietitian nutritionist for the first time, copying and

putting together one’s medical records becomes another thing to consider (“Diet Plan”). Just like

any other health professional, registered dietitian nutritionists like to know one’s medical history,

so that they can best understand their client’s medical background. The more a registered

dietitian nutritionist knows about their client, the better they can help their client and their

personal health needs.

When seeking a registered dietitian nutritionist, one also needs to become aware of some

common misconceptions associated with this career. The mistaken belief that registered dietitian

nutritionists also obtained a career as a medical doctor remains one of these misconceptions

(Juntti). While registered dietitian nutritionists remain trustworthy health professionals, they do

not have the same degree as a medical doctor, and therefore cannot do certain tasks that doctors

can. A client can come to them with specific nutritional needs, such as advice on eating habits,

or the need for a meal plan, but not when they feel they have a disease and need certain

medicine. Another false belief associated with this career relates to fad diets or detox programs,

and that a registered dietitian nutritionist would recommend one (“Trusting Your Dietitian”).

Many fad diets involve cutting out major food groups, instead of eating a well-rounded diet,
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which can harm the body. Registered dietitian nutritionists always have their clients’ best

interest in mind, and therefore recommending these new trends would seldom occur.

As part of their everyday routine, a registered dietitian nutritionist provides many

important things for their clients. First, they have studied and explored the science of nutrition

and health, and can apply that knowledge to help their clients (Hagan). Nutrition remains a

science, and this knowledge becomes essential to assessing a client’s health, and making

decisions based on those assessments. Whether this leads to devising a meal plan, or simply

talking through and discussing one’s diet with a client, the studies of registered dietitian

nutritionists enable them to make a positive impact on the client’s health. Additionally, a

registered dietitian nutritionist can limit or prevent the possibility of a client receiving

unfavorable diet-related conditions by restructuring the diet and exercise pattern of the client

(Hagan). This means a registered dietitian nutritionist not only affects the health of a client in

the short-term, but they can also affect the long-term health of an individual. By teaching their

clients healthy habits now, they increase the chance of their clients continuing those healthy

habits throughout their life.

To continue, registered dietitian nutritionists encounter difficulties throughout their

everyday routines. One of these difficulties includes the fact that many insurance companies do

not cover the services provided by registered dietitian nutritionists (Ulrich). This presents a

frustrating situation for the dietitian and the client. The dietitian loses business, and the client

does not get the opportunity to meet with the health professional. Additionally, even though

some insurance companies do cover these services, they sometimes only cover the first several

visits (Ulrich). Typically, just a few visits with a registered dietitian nutritionist does not act as a
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sufficient means of correcting one’s nutrition habits. Unfortunately, this often becomes an

irritating situation that many registered dietitian nutritionists must frequently face.

Many registered dietitian nutritionists lead independent jobs or practices, and work

one-on-one with clients. Those who lead independent practices often have the challenge of

working with their clients individually to enhance cardiac health, help treat diabetes, and aid in

dealing with food allergies (Ulrich). Leading an independent practice creates more of a personal

environment for the client. This personal environment allows the dietitian to focus on the

specific issues at hand, such as a food allergy, instead of focusing on multiple clients’ issues all

at once. Many registered dietitian nutritionists who lead independent practices also specialize in

weight loss or eating disorders (Ulrich). Owning one’s own independent practice allows them to

choose the areas in which they want to specialize. This means that registered dietitian

nutritionists who work independently often have more freedom in their everyday activities.

A corporate environment remains one of the major settings where a registered dietitian

nutritionist commonly works. In this type of setting, they still provide meal planning and

preparation, but on a grander scale (Hagan). For example, the registered dietitian nutritionist

working in the corporate setting might have many individuals working underneath them,

carrying out the tasks of meal planning for them. Since this registered dietitian nutritionist has

many more clients to care for, this setting becomes a completely different working environment

than the one-on-one client relation. However, they still play a huge role in sharing education and

motivation on good nutrition and healthy lifestyles within businesses (Begun). In a continuous

whirlwind of daily tasks and business meetings, workers easily get distracted from their own

health and instead focus on the job. Registered dietitian nutritionists help keep workers focused
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on their health, and informed on how to lead healthy lifestyles by providing constant reminders

and demonstrating how to make healthy choices.

Registered dietitian nutritionists also work within clinical settings, such as a hospital or

health center. Clinical nutritionists may have more interactions with healthcare professionals,

work less independently, and consequently, more within a group (Hagan). Many individuals

may find this setting ideal if they value working with others instead of individually. This clinical

setting significantly differs from an independent practice where one might always work directly

with their clients. However, the work of many clinical nutritionists still focuses on close client

relations (Hagan). Registered dietitian nutritionists in this setting may have more ‘patients’ than

‘clients,’ but there still remains room for daily interactions. Here, registered dietitian

nutritionists still have the opportunity to create the relationships with their clients that some

individuals value with their job, while also having the ability to work within a hospital or clinical

setting, and sometimes alongside other professionals.

Additionally, registered dietitian nutritionists commonly partner with schools to extend

their knowledge to a younger generation. They do this by finding fun ways to promote healthy

living to kids, such as building local school gardens, or developing apps for the kids to access the

school menus (Begun). Registered dietitian nutritionists working in a school setting would have

a refreshingly different atmosphere to work in, rather than some of the other settings available to

them. This setting would allow them to use their creativity, and have fun doing what they love,

while spreading knowledge on nutrition. When partnering with schools, registered dietitian

nutritionists become very useful with the increasing number of kids who follow vegetarian or

vegan diets, or who have dietary restrictions (Begun). Registered dietitian nutritionists can aid
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these students with their personal diet modifications, reduce the risk of potential allergic

reactions, and prevent kids from unintentionally eating something not included in their diet.

Working in a school setting allows one to positively impact children’s health by assisting them in

the short term, and also instilling lifelong habits that can impact them in the long run.

One receives countless benefits when training to become a registered dietitian

nutritionist. For example, all the knowledge gained during their education comes in handy

throughout one’s career. One registered dietitian nutritionist believes her knowledge in nutrition

allows her to have better one-on-one interactions with her clients (Juntti). This results from all

the schooling requirements which enable a registered dietitian nutritionist to correctly analyze a

client's diet. This knowledge also leads to a valuable interaction between a client and a

registered dietitian nutritionist, because it allows the client to better trust their dietician and his or

her suggestions. A registered dietitian nutritionist can also use their knowledge to have the

ability to change their clients’ lives by helping them reach their goals (Ulrich). Registered

dietitian nutritionists use their professional insight to help restructure the habits of their clients to

ensure they meet their personal health goals. They have the ability to do this through their many

qualities gained during the schooling process, such as problem solving and nutritional analysis.

Along with gained knowledge, a registered dietitian nutritionist gains personal benefits

from this career. For example, many registered dietitian nutritionists enjoy having a flexible

schedule (Ulrich). Many individuals value having a flexible schedule especially when it comes

to family, and spending time with loved ones. Additionally, a flexible schedule enables an

individual to have more freedom to do the other things they love, such as traveling or exercising.

Registered dietitian nutritionists also enjoy variety within their careers, meaning each day can
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differ from the last (Ulrich). They have a job centered around client interaction, which differs

from a typical desk job where an employee may sit around all day, and complete repetitive tasks

everyday. The variation between work-days becomes an exciting and major benefit for the many

individuals who get bored easily.

While a lot of the work of a registered dietitian nutritionist comes from talking with their

clients about diet, they do sometimes use simple technologies to further understand the health of

their client. One such technology, the glucometer, regularly receives use from registered

dietitian nutritionists (“How to Become a Nutritionist”). A glucometer measures the amount of

glucose, or sugar, that resides in the blood. Measuring the blood sugar of an individual greatly

aids registered dietitian nutritionists who have clients with diabetes, because of the importance of

evaluating blood sugar levels on a daily basis for those individuals. Another technology, the

bioelectric impedance machine, also helps registered dietitian nutritionists carry out their daily

tasks (“How to Become a Nutritionist”). A bioelectric impedance machine aids in determining

the body composition of a client, which helps to understand the body fat percentage.

Understanding the body fat percentage of a client becomes very useful to a registered dietitian

nutritionist, because sometimes one becomes classified as “overweight,” when in reality, they

simply have a high muscle mass and a low body fat composition. These simple technologies aid

registered dietitian nutritionists by allowing them to dive even deeper into the understanding of

their clients’ nutrition.

Helpful software also remains among these technologies used by registered dietitian

nutritionists to aid in adjusting the health of their clients. The BioEx Systems Nutrition Maker

Plus remains a helpful software available on the internet to registered dietitian nutritionists
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(“How to Become a Nutritionist”). This software offers aid in meal planning and analyzing the

diet of clients, both of which remain huge responsibilities of this career. The BioEx Systems

Nutrition Maker Plus allows registered dietitian nutritionists to have a way to record their

information online, and evaluate their conclusions virtually, instead of on paper. In a world of

increasing dependence on technology, registered dietitian nutritionists must keep up with new

technologies, so that they can best treat their clients (Capra). Understanding modern technology

becomes a necessary aspect of a career in nutrition, because new technologies continue to

emerge every day. Keeping up with modern technology will allow registered dietitian

nutritionists to stay relevant, and will in turn give them the ability to impact a larger majority of

the country, making the United States a more health-conscious nation.

As registered dietitian nutritionists study the effects of proper nutrition and the role it

plays in human health, work through close interactions with individuals, and work in the many

environments available to them, they will have the opportunity to impact the health of the entire

country. Nutritionists have studied health since the days of ancient Greece, and continue to gain

more knowledge every day. Registered dietitian nutritionists remain among the most

knowledgeable individuals in the subject of nutrition due in part to all the mandatory academic

requirements needed in order to achieve this career. The skills and knowledge gained from

schooling allows registered dietitian nutritionists to appropriately care for their clients. They

have the freedom to work with clients in various settings as well, which remains one of the many

perks of this career. In the present day, registered dietitian nutritionists also enjoy the added

benefits that many technologies provide. With the increasing nutritional issues in society, the

future health of the nation rests in the hands of registered dietitian nutritionists who, by studying
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nutrition and changing the habits of those around them, can make the world a healthier place, one

person at a time.
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