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  • Marika Day: What Do Dietitians and Nutritionists Do, and When Should You See One?

    Marika Day - 5 min read

    03 March 2021


    An unbalanced diet is one of the main risk factors to our health. Accredited dietitian and AIA Vitality Ambassador Marika Day explains how seeing a pro can help you get your gut on the right track.

    Marika Day: What Do Dietitians and Nutritionists Do, and When Should You See One?

    When you’ve got two professions both specialising in diet and nutrition, it’s pretty natural to assume they’re interchangeable (and a bit confusing!). But there are a few different ways dietitians and nutritionists can support you on your journey to good health.

    SO, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

    Dietitians, who need to complete a degree to receive accreditation, can provide support across a range of medical conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, as well as eating disorders.

    Nutritionists on the other hand, don’t need formal qualifications to practice and focus more on healthy eating.

    Both dietitians and nutritionists can provide support to clients wanting to lose or maintain their weight in a healthy, sustainable way.

    WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE SOMEONE?

    If you’re not feeling amazing and want to change some unhealthy habits, or have been diagnosed with a medical condition, it’s a good time to see a professional.

    Get ready to answer a lot of questions at your first appointment! We want to know all about your eating habits; not only what you eat, but what motivates you around your food choices. Is budget or stress a factor? What your partner or family is eating?

    If you’re seeing a dietitian, there’ll be lots of questions about your medical history and symptoms as well. It’s important we’re aware of any conditions impacting your life, even if they might be uncomfortable to talk about. 

    TREATMENT: FOOD, SUPPLEMENTS OR MEDICATION?

    Dietitians will always provide you with some form of dietary support. If someone is low in iron, we may provide some advice around supplements, but we don’t prescribe medication. Some dietitians and nutritionists may also provide meal plans.

    HOW MANY SESSIONS DO YOU NEED?

    Seeing a dietitian or nutritionist is a bit like seeing a psychologist – you’ll rarely see results from one consultation. For some, a few sessions might be enough, while for more complex symptoms, it might take weekly sessions over several months.

    WHAT DO PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT DIETITIANS AND NUTRITIONISTS?

    One of the biggest misconceptions is that we’re judging your food choices. We’re definitely not! Our job is to support you in making healthy changes in your life. Shame is not a healthy motivator, so if you’re feeling emotions like that after seeing any health professional, it’s time to find someone else.

    HOW CAN DIETITIANS AND NUTRITIONISTS HELP US LIVE HEALTHIER, BETTER, LONGER LIVES?

    Often, when it comes to diet, we have this gung-ho, all-or-nothing approach. We tell ourselves we’ll commit to the “perfect healthy diet” but there’s no such thing. That sort of mindset is inviting failure – it’s like going to the gym and starting with the heaviest weight.

    But with professionals like dietitians and nutritionists, we can educate and support you to make small, healthy changes in your life. We provide a balanced, goals-oriented approach to help you through your journey one step at a time. 


    Marika Day

    Marika Day is a proud AIA Vitality Ambassador and our expert on all things nutrition. As a nutritionist and Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Marika is passionate about helping all Australians on their journey to better health and wellbeing. With her online nutrition and health platform 'Fuelled by Marika Day', you can learn about how health and nutrition in a way which is easy to understand and importantly, realistic and relatable. Find out more at fuelledbymarikaday.com.

    This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

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    Copyright © 2021. AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Priority Protection and Priority Protection for Platform Investors products are issued by AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043). AIA Vitality, a personalised, science-backed program that supports members every day to make healthier choices, is available with eligible products issued by AIA Australia. AIA Health with AIA Vitality is issued by AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 32 611 323 034, a registered private health insurer governed by the Private Health Insurance Act 2007, Private Health Insurance Rules 2007 and the AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd Fund Rules. The information on this website is current as at 1 April 2021 and may be subject to change. It is general information only and is not intended in any way to be financial, legal, tax, health, medical, nutritional or other advice. You should consider your own personal circumstances and needs and view the relevant product documents, fact sheets, fund rules and terms and conditions before making a decision to acquire such products. If necessary you should obtain professional advice from a financial, tax, medical or health professional. Unless expressly stated, any views or expressions of opinion (including any video content) do not represent the opinion of AIA.
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