Dietitians are nutrition experts who can help you improve your health through food. They provide personalized guidance for healthy eating, weight management and managing medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, digestive disorders and food allergies.

Registered dietitians and nutritionists both help people make balanced food choices, but dietitians have specific education, training and credentials that qualify them to provide nutrition care for medical conditions.

Your dietitian will take time to learn about your health, lifestyle and goals so they can provide recommendations personalized for your needs. You’ll likely discuss:

• Your health history, including medical conditions, medications, supplements and food allergies
• Your eating habits, food preferences and everyday routines
• Lifestyle factors that affect nutrition, such as physical activity, sleep and stress
• How a health condition may affect your nutrition needs
• Realistic, evidence-based strategies to help you reach your health goals

Together, you'll develop a nutrition plan that fits your lifestyle, preferences and health needs.

You'll likely leave your appointment with goals you have identified for making changes. These might include trying different foods, eating at different times or in a different setting. Your goals will be strategies that fit your lifestyle. But rather than providing a strict diet to follow, our focus is helping you build sustainable eating habits that work for you.

Based on your needs, preferences and health goals, your dietitian can offer personalized recommendations to help you feel your best. For example, they may suggest ways to create meals that keep you feeling fuller longer, increase your protein intake, add more fruits and vegetables you enjoy, or plan healthy meals around a busy schedule.

Yes. Our dietitians work with people of all ages, including children and teens.

If the child is young, the dietitian spends a lot of time working with parents or caregivers on meal planning, feeding strategies and creating a supportive food environment.

With teens, appointments may involve more direct counseling to help them build skills around nutrition, meal planning, body image and independent decision-making.

Reasons for bringing a child to a dietitian or nutritionist could include:

• Growth, development and healthy weight concerns – If your child isn’t meeting developmental milestones or you’re concerned about their weight, a dietitian can help you understand how to support your child’s nutrition needs as they grow and develop.
• Picky eating and mealtime challenges – Picky eating is very common in children. Your dietitian can recommend ways to expand food choices and reduce stress around eating. They can also help identify if eating behaviors could be signs of another condition, such as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
• Food allergies, intolerances and digestive conditions – If your child has allergies or conditions that limit the foods they can eat, your dietitian can guide you on ways to ensure proper nutrition.
• Sports nutrition – Young athletes need fuel for sports performance, growth and recovery. A dietitian can help you plan meals and snacks to help ensure your child gets the nutrition they need.

Yes. Dietitians can help you develop sustainable eating habits that support weight loss while improving your overall health. Rather than recommending restrictive diets or the latest trends, they use evidence-based nutrition guidance to create a personalized plan based on your health needs, lifestyle and food preferences.

A dietitian can also help you identify behaviors that may be affecting your weight, such as distracted eating, eating too little or a limited variety of food choices. They can work with you to make realistic changes that fit your life. And because we believe that all foods can fit into a balanced diet, you won’t have to give up your favorite foods.

But for many people, weight loss isn’t as simple as changing what or how they eat. Medical conditions, medications, hormones, genetics and other factors can all play a role. For some people, medical weight loss, including surgery and medicines, may be an option to help you manage your weight. If appropriate, your dietitian (or primary care doctor) can provide a referral for the Bariatric Surgery and Weight Loss Center.

No, dietitians don’t prescribe GLP-1s or other medications. However, working with a dietitian can be especially helpful when you're taking a GLP-1 medication because these drugs change appetite, food intake and sometimes digestion. A dietitian can help you get the benefits of the medication while reducing common challenges. Some ways a dietitian may help include:

• Making sure you're getting the nutrition you need – GLP-1s often reduce hunger, which can make it harder to consume enough protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. A dietitian can help you build balanced meals even when you're eating less.
• Managing side effects – If you experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, early fullness or food aversions, a dietitian can suggest eating patterns and food choices to reduce discomfort.
• Providing guidance if weight loss slows – If weight loss slows or stops, a dietitian can review your eating patterns and identify opportunities to maintain progress while meeting nutritional needs.
• Support when reducing or stopping GLP-1s – Most people need to continue taking GLP-1s to sustain weight loss, based on the current research. But if you need to reduce your dose or stop taking a GLP-1, a dietitian can help create a plan to help maintain healthy eating habits and manage your weight.

No, you can see a dietitian without a referral, but your insurance plan may require one.

Medicare and Medicaid require referrals. Some private insurance may require referrals, so it’s best to check with your insurance plan before scheduling an appointment.

Many insurance plans cover these visits, but there can be differences in when and how they cover nutrition services. So, it’s always best to contact your insurance provider before you schedule an appointment. In particular, ask your insurance company about:

• Referrals for dietitian services – Check to see if your plan requires a referral from a primary care doctor before seeing a dietitian or nutritionist.
• Coverage for “medical nutrition therapy” – Nutrition services are billed to your insurance company under “medical nutrition therapy,” which is sometimes abbreviated as MNT. The CPT code (current procedural terminology code) for these services is 97802.

If your plan doesn’t cover appointments with a dietitian or nutritionist, help is still available to you. Your primary care doctor can provide personalized guidance about food and nutrition choices that are healthy and attainable.