How Dietitians Guide Your Health Journey and Weight Management

Do I need a dietitian? What does a dietitian do? Can a dietitian help with weight management?

What is a dietitian?

A dietitian is an expert in nutrition; dietitians are credentialed nutritionists which are medical professionals who use your diet and lifestyle to improve your health. They help people live healthy and active lives. A Registered Dietitian will focus on your overall well-being and how your diet might affect this, as well as any specific health issues.

Why is a dietitian best for healthy weight management?

There are many diets out in the world, and even more articles claim to have discovered the best one. However, when it comes to health, one diet does not fit everyone. In fact, depending on your specific health needs, some diets can do more harm than good.

For instance, if you have diabetes, your diet may focus on reducing carbohydrates and making specific changes to manage blood sugar. If you have obesity, a dietitian can help change your environment and food habits that work for you and are realistic! On the other hand, if you have kidney disease, your diet needs to focus more on limiting protein, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Your diet may need to limit a combination of foods. It’s not always easy to know which ones.

Many health issues and body types require specific food limitations and increases that aren’t easy to navigate without a little professional help. A dietitian can work with you to figure out the best foods for your body with a full review of your medical status by labs, weight, symptoms, and more, to give you a nutrition diagnosis. They can also teach you essential diet management skills like understanding food labels and how to increase flavor without increasing sodium or fat.

How do I pick a dietitian?

Finding the right dietitian frequently comes down to what specific health issues (if any) you want to address or the goals you have set for yourself, but there are a few other factors to keep in mind:

• Make sure your nutrition professional is a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). These professionals provide evidence-based, science-backed nutrition care, ensuring safe and reliable guidance rather than advice from social media influencers.

• Ensure that your nutritionist isn’t asking you to buy exclusive or brand-specific products.

• Find someone you want to work with long-term — nutrition isn’t an overnight fix!

 The best place to start, of course, is a referral from your primary care doctor:

For SAC Health patients, make an appointment by calling 909-382-7100. To find out how to become a SAC Health patient, go to www.sachealth.org/patients.