Dietitian

The dietitian is an expert in the field of nutrition in relation to health. There are many reasons to enlist the help of a dietitian. For example with overweight, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or with food allergies (hypersensitivity to certain nutrients).

What does a dietitian do?

A dietitian helps people to become healthier by means of nutritional or dietary advice. The dietitian looks at the current eating pattern and which improvements are possible to achieve the set goal. These advices are tailor-made and therefore different for everyone.

In addition, the dietitian offers guidance in adjusting the diet and maintaining it.

Dietitians can also specialise further. There are dietitians especially for athletes, children, people with allergies and hospital patients.

What can a dietitian help with?

A dietitian is not only there for people who want to lose a few kilos. People with a certain disease, allergy or athletes who want to improve their performance can also go here. In addition, it is advisable for people with bowel problems and chewing or swallowing complaints to enlist a dietitian.
In the following cases a dietitian can help you with dietary advice:

• Overweight.
• Underweight.
• Patients who are (long-term) in hospital, older adults, eating disorders.
• Food allergies. Coeliac disease, peanut allergy, cow's milk allergy or lactose intolerance.
• Diabetes.
• Cardiovascular disease. For example with high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels.
• Lung diseases such as COPD.
• Stomach and bowel complaints such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Cancer.
• Chewing and swallowing problems.
• Pregnancy. Which nutrients to take or avoid to make the chance of a healthy pregnancy as large as possible.
• Improving sports performance. For example by a balanced distribution of fats, carbohydrates and proteins for more energy and better recovery after exercise.
• Other conditions or major operations in which nutrition plays a role in recovery.

Assessment and treatment with the dietitian

At a first appointment the dietitian will ask many questions about your complaints, your current diet and the goal you want to achieve. It is useful to think about this in advance. You can expect questions like these:

• What is the reason for your visit?
• What do you eat and drink in a day?
• What goal do you want to achieve?
• What have you already tried yourself to get rid of the complaints?
• How active are you in a day?
• Are there other physical or mental problems to consider?
• What complaints do you have?
• Do you use medicines?
• Are there any foods you may not or do not want to eat? For example because of your faith or because you prefer not to eat meat or other animal products?

Where does a dietitian work?

You will encounter dietitians in many places. In a dietitian's practice they see people during the consultation hour. In hospitals or care institutions the dietitian visits the patient. There they work together with doctors, nutrition assistants and nurses. Companies that make or prepare food often also employ dietitians.