What’s the Difference Between a Health Coach, a Registered Dietitian, and a Nutritionist?

I get a lot of people ask me if I’m actually a nutritionist. Then, they say, “Oh, so you are a dietition?”

No…

One of the most common questions health coaches get are these such questions. Many people are familiar with the term “nutritionist” when it comes to someone who helps others develop healthy eating habits, but “health coach”? I do find that I have to explain the difference a lot.

Sooo, here are the distinctions to help you get clear on the differences between ta HEALTH COACH, REGISTERED DIETITIAN, and NUTRITIONIST.

Health Coach

A Health Coach is someone who works with clients to help them achieve wellness goals such as losing weight, increasing energy, or naturally alleviating symptoms of digestive distress. They also focus on disease prevention, reducing stress, and creating balance in all areas of life. A holistic health Coaches take a whole-body, approach to wellness. What this means is they go beyond food and diet for ways that a client can improve their quality of life. It also means that they consider things like career satisfaction and fulfilling relationships as being influential to client success.

A health coach can start their own business, or alongside medical professionals, and in other wellness settings such as yoga studios or wellness centers. Certification to become a Health Coach is usually 6-12 months training. (12 months through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition).

Registered Dietitian

A Registered Dietitian has more formal schooling in the biology and biochemistry of the human body. RD’s must complete at least a bachelor’s degree, work in a supervisory program for approximately 1 year at a health care facility, and pass a national examination to get their license. Most are more likely to work in a conventional medical setting, such as a hospital or public health center, and work with doctors to help patients who have serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.

Registered Dietitians must follow a certain set of guidelines in terms of the recommendations they can make to patients. While this ensures a certain level of standard practice, it leaves less room for individualized support and does not take into account the non-dietary aspects of life that facilitate or prevent healing (such as anxiety about work, lack of sleep or adequate hydration, or time for relaxation).

The advantage of being a Registered Dietitian is that this is generally a wider acceptance and recognition within the medical field.

Nutritionist

Now, this is the closest to a health coach (and some actually call themselves a nutritionist). There are no specific requirements for this term, so many different types of professionals who have a wide range of experience in wellness and nutrition call themselves nutritionists. It is more common for Registered Dietitians to use the title.

Does that help define a health coach to you?

You can find more about being a health coach here and receive major discounts through my + get a free sample class!