A question I often get is what a health coach even does, and how legitimate of a service can be offered if it differs from a registered dietician or nutritionist. Below is a quick breakdown of the differences between the two roles, to better inform your decision of what will work best for what you're looking for:
Physical Setting
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
majority are self-employed or in gyms, spas, the heath food industry, corporations, doctors' offices, wellness centers
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
majority are in hospitals, long-term care facilities, doctors' offices, food industry, public health, government
Session Approach
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
largely client-driven
usually initiated by client's decision to make some type of large change
not diagnostic - emphasizes ongoing coaching plan to meet goals
dietary nutrition is the secondary focus
discusses non-food forms of nourishment, which my include spirituality, career, physical activity, relationships, and other lifestyle factors in addition to dieting habits
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist
may or may not be client-driven
usually initiated by doctor recommendation or prescription
diagnostic treatment plans often regulated by insurance companies
dietary nutrition is the primary focus
may discuss fitness but focuses on behaviors centered around food
Client Analysis
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
does not diagnose/treat; assesses clients' overall well-being while allowing clients to drive convo and determine areas of desired focus
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
diagnoses clients' nutritional imbalances and concerns using the process of identifying problem, cause, and symptom in order to support pursuit of a treatment plan
Client Intervention
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
makes general, low-risk recs to help clients enact basic, health-supportive modifications and habits; recs might include: developing strategies to incorporate more physical activities, adding in more fruits and veggies and drinking more water to crowd out sugar, processed grains, and caffeinated beverages; learning to nurture good relationships; identifying career aspirations and developing strategies to actualize these goals; deepening spiritual practices through meditation, nature, or religion to enhance self-fulfillment
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
makes specific nutrition recs, often using food components such as calories of energy, grams of protein, and milliliters of water, based on activity level, stress level, and body composition
may recommend specific doses of vitamins, minerals, or other therapeutic supplements supported by nutritional assessment findings
may request or recommend further laboratory tests from a physician
Nutrition Theory
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
focuses on whole foods; avoids breaking down needs to macro and micronutrient level
may promote several different dietary theories tailored to the needs of each unique client
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
focuses on food components like macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)
many diet plans based on one-size-fits-all government-developed guidelines
Client Goal
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
in addition to specific goals, focuses on teaching clients to eventually be self-sufficient by learning to observe the body's response to various lifestyle and dietary modifications and choosing health-promoting behaviors that work for them on their own
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
usually specific goals, such as weight loss, blood glucose content, or blood pressure normalizations, which often require ongoing guidance and maintenance
Educational Background
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
doesn't require an undergraduate degree or academic prerequisites
doesn't require passing a national exam to practice
trained on basic scientific concepts of metabolism with an emphsis on whole foods and healthy lifestyle components, such as physical activity, career, relationships, and spirituality; trained to coach and hold clients accountable for lifestyle choices
IIN requires an intensive, year-long course to provide the training that future clients deserve and demand
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
requires at least a bachelor's degree, 50% hold master's degrees or doctorates
requires passing a national exam
trained in-depth on disease states, biochemistry, metabolism, and macro and micronutrients, such as carbs, fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals
requires certification through national certifying body to practice
Career Characteristics
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach:
new, emerging, quickly evolving profession tailored to address healthcare crisis
forward-thinking, holistic - combines traditional health concepts with both ancient and modern practices
science and experientially-based recommendations
little to no government or food industry influence
Registered Dietician/Nutritionist:
founded on concepts established in 1917, slowly evolving
traditional, allopathic, medically established health concepts
science-based recommendations
strong government and food industry influence
Comments