Dietitians
Dietitians are health professionals who are experts in preventing and treating disease using food and nutrition. They can help you improve your health and lifestyle through good nutrition (eating well).
What dietitians do
A dietitian can help you in many ways. Some examples include:
- you have a nutrition-related condition such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease or kidney disease
- you have a digestive or bowel problem such as heartburn, constipation or irritable bowel syndrome
- your child has specialised nutrition problems
- you want to improve your chances of becoming pregnant
- you want advice about breastfeeding and weaning
- you have a wound such as a leg ulcer that's taking a long time to heal
- you want to lose or gain weight in a safe and sensible way
- you think you may have a food allergy or food intolerance
- you want to improve your sporting performance
- you need to follow a special diet such as low FODMAP, low lactose, gluten-free or plant-based
- you want advice to improve what you and your family eat.
Most first appointments with a private dietitian last for an hour. Follow-up appointments can take from 15 minutes to an hour. You can bring a family member or friend with you, especially if they're in charge of the shopping or cooking.
Your dietitian will ask you about what you eat and drink. They'll also ask you about your general health and lifestyle. They may measure your weight and height.
Your dietitian will use this information to develop an eating plan for you. The eating plan will aim to suit your lifestyle and manage any health condition you have. It will also make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need to be healthy.
Cost of seeing a dietitian
If you meet the criteria to see a dietitian through the public health system, there is no cost.
ACC
If you have an injury-related nutrition issue, ACC might pay for the cost of your dietitian care. This could be if you have a brain injury that affects eating, for example. If ACC covers your dietitian care, there's no surcharge, it's fully funded.
Private health insurance
If you have health insurance, it may cover care from a dietitian. Check with your insurer to find out whether you are covered, and whether you need a referral from your GP or specialist.
Find a dietitian
If you meet certain criteria, your healthcare provider may refer you to see a dietitian through the public health system. The dietitian will see you at an outpatient clinic or in your own home.
If you do not meet the criteria, you can pay to see a private dietitian. You can search for a dietitian on the Healthpoint website.
Where they work
Dietitians provide specialist services in hospitals, private practices, medical centres and aged care facilities.
You may also find them in community organisations, sports clinics and gyms. They see people one-on-one and in groups.
Qualifications and training
A dietitian has a degree in human nutrition and a postgraduate diploma or masters in dietetics. To use the title of dietitian, a dietitian must be registered with the Dietitians Board. They must also hold a current practising certificate. The Dietitians Board maintains a register of dietitians.
Public register of New Zealand registered dietitians — Dietitians Board
You may see the letters NZRD after a dietitian's name. NZRD stands for New Zealand Registered Dietitian.
All dietitians are also nutritionists. But anyone can call themselves a nutritionist.
Differences between dietitians and nutritionists
What they do
Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems.
They work with both healthy and sick people, providing medical nutrition therapy for short-term and long-term medical conditions. Most dietitians can prescribe 'special foods' and approved nutrition-related medicines.
Medical insurance may cover the cost of private dietitian visits.
Where they work
Dietitians mostly work in places like hospitals and clinics. In these settings, they provide medical nutrition therapy in the public health system and private practice.
Other places where dietitians work include:
- the food industry and food service management
- sports and exercise nutrition
- teaching
- research
- the media
- government and non-government organisations, such as the Heart Foundation and Diabetes New Zealand.
Regulation
In New Zealand, dietitians are the only regulated nutrition health profession. Only registered practitioners can use the title of dietitian or practise dietetics.
To keep their registration, dietitians must re-register annually. They must also take part in an audited continuing competency programme. The programme has continuing education, peer review and cultural competency requirements. The New Zealand Dietitians Board sets the requirements.
Qualifications
Registered dietitians must have:
- a 3-year accredited undergraduate health science degree
- a 2-year accredited Master of Dietetics degree or comparable training.
The New Zealand Dietitians Board must endorse the training.
Dietetic training includes:
- medical nutrition
- public health
- food service management.
Dietetic tutors supervise clinical placements in hospital, community, public health and food service settings.
What they do
Nutritionists provide information and advice about:
- food
- diet
- health.
They usually work with people who are well.
Registered nutritionists work within a specific field of expertise, depending on their qualifications.
This can be:
- human
- plant
- animal.
Where they work
Nutritionists mostly work in non-clinical settings. These include:
- the food industry
- sports and exercise nutrition
- teaching
- research
- government and non-government organisations, such as the Heart Foundation and Diabetes New Zealand.
Some nutritionists work in public health units or freelance as consultants — for example, within the media.
Regulation
Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of qualifications and experience.
Nutritionists can register voluntarily with the New Zealand Nutrition Society. To do this, they must meet education and experience requirements.
To keep their registration, nutritionists must re-register every 3 years. They must also provide evidence of continuing competency.
Qualifications
Anyone, with or without a nutrition qualification, may call themselves a nutritionist. Registered nutritionists must meet education and experience requirements.
Registered nutritionists are registered in a specific field of expertise. These include:
- public health
- education
- practice
- scientific research
- industrial research.
There are 2 categories of professional accreditation:
- Registered Nutritionist and Associate
- Registered Nutritionist.