Is Online Dietitian Counseling Effective?

Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift in healthcare from face-to-face appointments to telehealth, with COVID accelerating the change. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who has worked with patients for over 30 years, I can assure you that online nutrition counseling can be just as effective as in-person appointments.

Success depends, as it always has, primarily on the patient-dietitian relationship—not the delivery format.

What Are the Benefits of Online Nutrition Therapy?

Time: Instead of organizing your day around getting to an appointment, you simply need to find a quiet space to meet. There’s no commute time and no battling traffic or parking. Connect from home, and you can even show me your pantry!

Equal Health Results: Research shows no significant differences in attaining weight loss goals or implementing Medical Nutrition Therapy to improve or manage medical conditions between patients who have face-to-face appointments and those who meet with their dietitian virtually. On average, patients are also able to keep their scheduled appointments more consistently and with less stress, which can contribute to improved long-term results.

Travel Difficulties: Patients who struggle with traffic and travel time or have medical conditions that make travel difficult can still receive the care they need by working virtually. I will review your labs and blood work, take a thorough medical history, and provide a personalized nutrition plan to help you attain your goals. Nothing changes except the way we meet—by phone or computer, whichever works best for you.

Virtual Nutrition Counseling: What to Expect

A typical virtual session takes place on your phone, iPad, or computer—no fancy technology needed.

During the First Session

Assessment: We will review your medical history and current health status, your goals for nutrition therapy, your lifestyle, current eating practices, and customary diet. I will identify areas that need improvement as well as appropriate choices and healthy habits that are already in place.

Education: You will receive nutrition education along with resources, such as handouts, that address medical conditions, weight management, health concerns, and goals.

Nutrition Plan: We will work together to establish a nutrition plan that considers your lifestyle, food preferences, medical needs, and overall health. This may include:

• A personalized meal plan that incorporates simplicity and flexibility
• Recommendations for specific foods and eating patterns that address your unique health needs

During Follow-Up Sessions

During these sessions, we will review, discuss, and assess your progress, answer your questions, and address any challenges or barriers you may have encountered. I will provide additional nutrition education along with dietary, behavioral, and lifestyle recommendations.

How Is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Different From a Nutritionist?

The terms RDN and nutritionist may not seem all that different, but in reality, the requirements for each are quite different. You may have come across the following phrase when trying to better understand the distinction:

“All registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians.”

To earn the RDN credential, an individual must complete specific education and supervised practice requirements and pass a national credentialing exam before using the title of RDN.

Requirements to be a nutritionist are not as specific in terms of education or supervised practice. An individual with a degree in nutrition may call themself a nutritionist, as may someone who has completed a more basic nutrition certificate program. Without standardized credentialing requirements, the type of nutrition care a nutritionist can legally provide may be limited.

Online dietitian counseling is effective—a statement backed by research. It is not a compromise. It is also important to find an RDN whose approach fits your needs.