Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts. They assess a person’s health and nutritional needs and come up with plans to meet those needs. RDNs are trained to help you with a variety of food, nutrition, and health needs. These include:
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Helping you lose or gain weight
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Finding foods that help ease swallowing
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Coming up with special diets for certain conditions, such as celiac disease, food allergies, gout, or digestive problems
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Understanding dietary changes that need to be made because of a disability
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Helping with tube feeding formulas and schedules for people who can’t swallow
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Teaching people and their families about nutrition topics linked to diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease
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Helping a person overcome an eating disorder
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Finding foods to help improve athletic performance
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Teaching you how to plan and prepare healthy meals
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Helping you get ready for or adjust to eating after having weight-loss (bariatric) surgery
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Teaching parents about child nutrition
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Teaching about good nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy
RDNs practice in many different settings. These include:
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Hospitals
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Inpatient rehab (rehabilitation) centers
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Home health settings
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Private practice and consulting
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School districts and universities
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Community or government nutrition programs
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Fitness centers
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Culinary schools and restaurants
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Media, communications, social media, and food marketing
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Grocery stores
RDNs hold an undergraduate degree, have completed an approved internship program, and have passed a national exam to be credentialed as registered dietitian nutritionists. Many have also earned a master's degree in dietetics or nutrition science. RDNs must complete ongoing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Brittany Poulson MDA RDN CD CDE
Online Medical Reviewer:
Diane Horowitz MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Louise Cunningham RN BSN
Date Last Reviewed:
9/1/2020
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