Nutritionist: what they do and why you should look for one

Healthcare / Date: 04-22-2025

If you've ever thought that to be healthy you just need to follow a list of trendy foods, you may be depriving yourself of a world of possibilities that only a good nutritionist could show you. More than counting calories, a nutritionist is your partner in the search for a more balanced and healthy life that aligns everything you eat with your needs and goals .

He is also a professional who serves adults, children, the elderly, athletes and anyone who is trying to give a little push to leave a sedentary lifestyle behind.

What does a nutritionist do in practice?

Nutritionists, as the name suggests, are professionals specialized in nutrition . They go beyond the “can or can’t” and understand how nutrients affect the body and help health.

Therefore, they will help you throughout your nutrition journey, by creating your diet. But in addition to creating interesting menus for your health or well-being goals, they can help you control chronic diseases , deal with eating disorders and, if applicable, support you in the weight loss process .

Everything is done individually , ^whether in a face-to-face consultation or with an online nutritionist . This way, you will eat what you really need, in the ideal quantity and frequency for your body.

When should I see a nutritionist?

Seeking a nutritionist can be one of the best decisions for your health, no matter what stage of life you are in. And as we mentioned earlier, you can choose an online nutritionist, since many nutritionists now offer this type of service. It’s a great convenience for a busy routine!

No more putting it off! Here are some situations in which this follow-up is more than welcome.

When it's time to lose weight

A nutritionist will define a balanced eating plan that is appropriate for your lifestyle and will help you avoid fake news about nutrition.

To improve performance in sports

A sports nutritionist works to improve your performance and recovery when you exercise or play a sport. He or she can create a meal plan focused on gaining lean mass and losing fat, for example, and help you be even healthier and perform better in your activities.

To take care of children's nutrition

From the earliest years, a balanced diet is essential for children. The child nutritionist adapts meal plans to ensure that the child receives all the nutrients and has a healthy development.

Specific health conditions

Anyone who has or wants to prevent a chronic disease , such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, among others, benefits greatly from the attentive attention of a nutritionist, who adjusts the diet to deal with these conditions in the best way.

Immunity booster

Good nutrition can help your immune system and, therefore, give you that extra boost to get through the cold months or deal with crazy temperature changes . And who can help you know what to put on your plate to help boost your immunity? A nutritionist

Is a nutritionist a doctor?

This is a common question: is a nutritionist a doctor? It arises because there is confusion with the terms “nutriologist or nutritionist” . The answer is no, a nutritionist is not a doctor .

With specific training in nutrition, the nutritionist is an expert in understanding how food influences our lives . He or she evaluates what you eat and develops personalized eating plans to improve health, prevent diseases and treat conditions that may be linked to diet, as we have already discussed here.

In addition to the general clinical area, the professional may follow a specific field of activity. There we have the sports nutritionist, the child nutritionist, the one who takes care of food production and so on.

Oh, one more caveat is important: nutritionists cannot prescribe medications , for example.

A nutritionist is a doctor who has specialized in nutrition . Unlike a nutritionist, a nutritionist does not prescribe a diet plan, but works on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including prescribing medications to treat the patient's complaints.

Therefore, the nutritionist and the nutritionist (the latter, a doctor) work in complementary areas that are important for improving everyone's health.

But can a nutritionist prescribe supplements?

Yes! According to a resolution from the Federal Nutrition Council, nutritionists are able to prescribe nutritional supplements , that is, those that may be necessary to complement patients' diets.

The prescription will be made according to each person's needs, in the correct doses for the patient's profile, age, routine and objectives. The caveat here is for cases of higher doses. As they are considered medicinal doses , they should only be prescribed by doctors , also after an individualized evaluation of each patient.

Therefore, don't be tempted to take a supplement or multivitamin to boost ^yourimmunity or gain energy without first consulting a nutritionist ^or a doctor. They will advise you whether it is, in fact, necessary to take supplements and what is the best path to follow in your case.