By reeves A qualified nutritionist can help with weight loss, managing chronic conditions, or just learning how to eat better.
It can be difficult to find the right nutritionist in london for weight loss. These are the steps you need to take in order to find the right nutritionist.
Ask for referrals
Anyone can be called a nutritionist in many states. Referrals from trusted healthcare providers are a good idea. Referrals are the fastest and most efficient way to find any type of professional. Getting a referral from a healthcare expert will increase your chances of finding qualified providers. For example, your doctor may already have a relationship with a nutritionist or dietitian, or nutrition or dietary counseling counselor. (Depending on the state you live in, there may be a range of titles for individuals who offer legitimate nutrition counseling services.
These are some good sources of referrals:
- Your doctor. Inform your doctor that you are interested in nutrition counseling. Ask your doctor for recommendations. You can call your doctor to make an appointment, or leave a message expressing interest in nutrition counseling. You may get recommendations from someone in the office over the phone.
- Local health department. Local public health departments often have established relationships with local nutritionists because they are the home of programs like WIC (Women, Infants and Children), a nutrition program for low income families, and senior dining programs.
- Local hospitals. Many hospitals have Registered Dietitians who provide nutrition counseling services. They might also collaborate with community nutritionists.
- A nearby college or university has a nutrition department. Nutrition departments educate future nutritionists. These departments also have doctoral-level nutrition experts.
- American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Click the Find a Registered Dietitian link (to the right) to see a list.
- Your insurance agency. Many insurance companies offer nutrition counseling coverage. To find out which providers and services are covered by your insurance, check your policy.
Verify Credentials
Double-check the credentials and education of any nutritionist before you make an appointment. Ask about:
- Education. Where did the nutritionist study? What degree did the nutritionist earn? A nutritionist should have at least a bachelor’s in nutrition, dietetics, or related health science. Ask about further education in nutrition if the degree is in a related field (e.g., nursing).
- Title. Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Specialist are some titles that show a high level professional preparation. These titles are a guarantee of professional expertise. However, not all health professionals can be certified to offer nutrition counseling services without these titles.
- Certifications and continuing education. Ask about the continuing education and certifications of any individual you are considering if they don’t hold a nutrition degree or have a recognized title. Some health professionals continue their education to become nutrition counselors.
Ask Questions
Ask a few questions about the work and expertise of the nutritionist. Ask:
- Which clients are you most familiar with? A nutritionist should have experience with working with clients similar to yours. If you are looking for someone who can help you lose weight, you should look for someone who is a specialist in this area. Look for someone who has experience working with people with diabetes if you are just diagnosed.
- What can I expect from a session? A typical session will include time to talk about your lifestyle, diet and progress as well as education and possibly a list to do at home.
- What number of sessions do you believe we will need to see any progress? You don’t want any quick fixes. You need to be patient in order to change your eating habits. For best results, you should work with a nutritionist for a long time.
These three steps will help you find a nutritionist and get you on your way to good health.