Health Coach vs. Nutritionist: What's the Difference?

You may have decided to work with a health professional to improve your health, but you are unsure whether you should choose a health coach or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). 

An RDN has in-depth nutrition expertise to help address your specific health conditions with medical nutrition therapy, provide individualized meal plans and nutrient needs, and nutrition counseling. 

Let’s learn about the differences between health coaches and registered dietitian nutritionists and tips on choosing the best professional based on health goals or needs.

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Health Coach Vs. Nutritionist: Which Do I Need?

You’ve made the first big decision and want professional help to improve your health.

Congratulations! This is a great first step on your health journey. 

Your next step is determining the correct type of healthcare professional for your needs. 

Both professionals can work on similar goals, like weight loss, increased physical activity, or ways to make realistic changes, but they have different approaches and roles in helping you achieve your goal. 

You can also work with both a health coach and an RDN.

Some RDNs are health coaches or incorporate health coaching into their nutrition practice. 

What Is A Health Coach?

A health coach, sometimes called a health and wellness coach, partners with clients to improve their well-being through self-directed change. 

There are no mandatory training programs for someone to call themselves a health coach.

There are voluntary programs that offer board-certified health coaching exams. 

What Do Health Coaches Do?

A health coach operates from the perspective that the client is the expert on their own life and behaviors and guides change. 

A health coach supports and activates internal strength within the client and directs the client towards applicable resources to make change. 

Health coaches can help you: 

• Learn to better manage stress.
• Improve sleep habits.
• Make lifestyle changes.
• Improve general nutrition.
• Or increase physical activity.

Research shows that health coaching may help people with type 2 diabetes better manage their blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy diet their medical team prescribes.

The health coach supports the person’s ability to implement the changes their doctor and dietitian recommend. 

What Health Coaches Can Not Do

A health coach is not a regulated term, but there are certain things a health coach should not do.

These activities could put a client at risk for adverse effects since the health coach is not trained in those areas. 

Health coaches on their own:

• Don’t diagnose health conditions, prescribe medical treatments, or complete psychological interventions. 
• Don’t prescribe supplements or medications.
• Don’t prescribe meal plans or complete nutrition counseling.
• Don’t prescribe exercise plans. 

A health coach could do some of these activities if they have additional certifications or training.

For example, a health coach who is also a registered dietitian nutritionist could prescribe meal plans. 

What Is A Nutritionist?

The titles registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can be used interchangeably to describe credentialed food and nutrition experts. 

An RDN has completed an undergraduate degree, supervised practice, passed a national exam, and maintains ongoing professional development. 

However, the title of nutritionist does not have a standardized meaning or credentials; anyone can call themselves a nutritionist.

Work with an RD or RDN to ensure optimal nutrition care. 

What Do Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Do

RDNs make evidence-based nutrition recommendations.

They are authorized to practice medical nutrition therapy (MNT) or a personalized nutrition-based treatment plan for improving health conditions. 

RDNs can do the following as part of MNT:

• The assessment of a person’s nutrition status.
• The ability to perform nutrition-focused physical exams and interpret test results.
• Prescribe diets, medical food, and nutrition supplements.
• Support clients in their recovery after illness or surgery.
• Provide nutrition counseling, nutrition behavior therapy, and health and wellness coaching.
• Provide nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle, and health education.
• Counsel on any health condition and the preferred nutrition treatment.

RDNs can do all the activities a health coach can do and more. 

What They Can't Do

While an RDN can do many things, their scope of practice limits them in some ways. 

Registered dietitian nutritionists:

• Don’t diagnose health conditions or complete psychological interventions. 
• Don’t prescribe medications. 

A registered dietitian can help you manage your medical condition.

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How Do Health Coaches And Nutritionists Differ?

Health coaches and registered dietitian nutritionists are similar in many ways, but the main difference is the extra expertise and approach when working with an RDN. 

An RDN's focus is more medical and treatment-focused.

They use food, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to improve health conditions.

They will use health coaching to help motivate you to make nutrition improvements. 

A health coach focuses on overall well-being and strategies to inspire self-directed behavior change, which may be nutrition-related but can encompass all aspects of health. 

An RDN will partner with you to help educate and inspire you to make change.

A health coach supports your choices and lets you direct the change path. 

When To Work With A Health Coach Vs. Nutritionist 

Even though there is an overlap between the two healthcare professionals, their approaches and expertise differ. 

Health coaches inspire change in a broader health sense.

They may help you work on quitting smoking, adopting better stress management techniques, or strategies for handling conflict healthier. 

Some employers offer health coaching within their employee wellness programs.

Insurance companies also use health coaching to reduce risk factors for health problems. 

Rates to see a health coach are typically lower than those of an RDN.

However, seeing an RDN can be covered under your insurance, whereas health coaching is not usually covered unless part of a workplace wellness program or in conjunction with a physician’s office. 

Check with your employee wellness programs and insurance coverage to see what coverage you have for health coaching and RDN services. 

Seek an RDN for anything related to nutrition, improving medical conditions, and diet. A health coach might be a good first step if you are looking for help making changes outside of those areas. 

Tips For Finding A Qualified Health Coach Or Nutritionist

When finding a qualified health coach, choose those with credentials.

Some health coaching programs may only require an exam. 

The most rigorous credential is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), requiring an associate's degree or 4,000 hours of work experience, a training program, and an exam. 

Look for a nutritionist who is either a registered dietitian or a registered dietitian nutritionist who will support your journey toward improved health and nutrition with practical, research-based advice. 

A registered dietitian credential is a professional qualification that lets the public know the healthcare professional is a trained expert with a minimum of an undergraduate degree (although incoming dietitians as of 2024 require a graduate degree), 1,000 supervised practice hours, a national exam, and maintains ongoing professional development. 

Choose credentialed healthcare professionals for expert care. 

Takeaway

Health coaches and RDNs both inspire change and improve health. The main difference is their expertise and approach. 

An RDN's focus is more medical and treatment-focused.

They partner with you to improve health conditions through food, nutrition, and lifestyle changes.

An RDN does use health coaching to motivate and support changes in your life. 

A health coach focuses on overall well-being and strategies to inspire self-directed behavior change, which may be nutrition-related but can encompass all aspects of health.

A health coach supports your choices and lets you direct the path of change. 

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