What is a clinical nutritionist?

Is degree qualified.

A clinical or accredited nutritionist is a tertiary-qualified professional trained to provide dietary advice, prescribe supplements and request functional testing for many medical conditions to address the root cause.

They can work in private practice, clinical practice, nutrition support services, community and public health nutrition. They are not qualified to work within the hospital.

A clinical nutritionist can help if you want nutritional support from a holistic lens.

Takes an evidence-based holistic approach.

As clinical nutritionists, we are taught to take into consideration the person as a whole, by looking at all pillars of health.

This approach is evidence-informed, meaning knowledge from traditional medicine and research findings are combined to inform treatment plans.

Clinical nutritionists recognise the complexity of disease, due to the causation by a combination of factors. As a result, clients are given individualised care in response to their health.

Compared to a dietitian?

Dietitians are also tertiary-qualified professionals who have studied a degree in nutrition and often a master's in dietetics as well. They have the same expertise as a clinical nutritionist with additional training including, medical nutrition therapy and food service management.

A dietitian is trained to work within a hospital, and with chronic medical conditions such as nasogastric.

All dietitians are clinical nutritionists and nutritionists, but clinical nutritionists and nutritionists are not dietitians.

Compared to a nutritionist?

Technically anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, nutrition coach or nutrition consultant because the term in Australia is not regulated. They may have a Certificate IV, or a certification of nutrition; or no qualification at all!

A nutritionist can provide very general dietary advice.

They cannot prescribe supplements or a diet for particular medical conditions, and they cannot work in a hospital.