What is dietetics ? What is nutrition ?

Nutrition and Dietetics, a subdiscipline of Medicine, is the science that focuses on everything related to food and its effect on our health and overall wellbeing. Nutritionists and dietitians aim to improve people's health and help them make better dietary choices.

Source: Mastersportal.com

What’s the difference between a ‘médecin nutritionniste’, a ‘diététicienne-nutritionniste’ and a ‘coach en nutrition’.

A médecin nutritionist is a doctor who specialises in nutrition.

A diététicien-nutritionnist is a qualified health professional who has studied for at least two years, who will go on to work in a hospital, in the hospitality business developing menus for schools or old people’s homes, for example or can work in a private practice receiving clients/patients and helping them improve their health through diet.

A nutritional coach, on the other hand, does not benefit from any kind of standardised training recognised at the state level. Can not be found on a list of health professionals in your area and can no longer be found on Doctolib.

Why book an appointment with a dietician ?

A dietician can help you acquire good food habits over the long term. Sometimes we can help you lose weight, or give you advice about living with certain health conditions, but essentially, it’s about helping you to change out your bad habits for good ones so you can keep enjoying your food without long-term consequences for your health.

You shouldn’t feel alone and no questions should be left unanswered.

Here are some concrete reasons to book an appointment:

• Learn how to eat a balanced diet or better balance your food intake.

• Help with digestive issues: constipation, diahrroea, bloating, excessive gas, pain in the intestinal tract, acid reflux, etc.

• Improve your blood work: high cholesterol levels, high level of triglycerides, low levels of iron, etc.

• Learn how to adapt your children’s diets with regards to their age, and therefore their needs.

• Increase your well-being by returning to a healthy weight, or a weight you find manageable.

• Help to manage if you are over weight, under weight or obese.

• Understanding the recommendations and advice specific to pregnant and breast-feeding women.

• Balancing your diet if you are flexitarian, vegan or vegetarian.

• Being accompanied if you are dealing with cancer, or have had cancer, being accompanied and avoiding vitamin deficiencies, if you have food intolerances, or allergies, if you have heart problems, diabetes or high levels or uric acid

As a reminder: dieteticians respect health professional-patient confidentiality.

What happens during the first appointment with a dietician?

The first appointment with a dietician is very important because you need to feel comfortable with the person who will help you make changes in your life. It should last about one hour.

We need to understand who you are and how you live and we will take this information, as well as your height, weight, age, sex, activity level into account in order to best advise you.

A full medical history is often necessary, so please bring a copy of any recent blood tests. It can be helpful to know how you eat, so take time to think about this, or even note down the last three days food before your appointment, taking time to specify if this is representative of your normal way of eating.

At the end of this first appointment, together we will decide which objectives to put in place in order to reach your health goals.

A follow-up appointment will last around 30 minutes. These appointments could be spaced every two weeks, three weeks or once a month depending on your request, your needs and your objectives. Do these objectives need to be modified? The dietician is there to listen to any difficulties you’ve had implementing the advice given, answer any questions you may have and give encouragement. You should feel part of a team.

Do I need a follow-up appointment?

All change is hard. Changing food habits is particularly difficult because food is a lot more than nutrition. It can also be nostalgic, cultural, symbolic or emotional. Even if we know what a balanced-diet is, it doesn’t mean we know how to put it in place in our own lives. This could take time or adjustment and may not be easy to do straight away or all the time. The dietician is there to help you remain motivated despite any setbacks. Sometimes our priorities change, we can also help to give menu ideas and other useful tips.

How to find a dietician ?

You can look on the ARS website as all health professionals are listed here, otherwise Doctolib can be a good place to start.

Book an appointment when you feel ready to take action.

What training is needed to become a diététicienne-nutritionniste ?

There are two different routes to qualify as a dietician in France: either BTS diététique or a DUT génie biologique option diététique.

Less common reasons to see a dietician.

• Help with stopping smoking*

• Help to reduce alcohol intake*

• Help with organisation of family meals or mealtimes

• Help to plan a menu for a special event

• Improve your body image

*A dietician can refer you to other health professionals, if necessary.