Nutrition Professionals

Why PAY to see a Registered Dietitian (RD)?
	Adapted from article published in Sacromentor Bee May 20, 1990: Professional help for losing pounds; you lose necessary weight without losing unnecessarily in pocketbook.

	Why don't people go see an RD? Many doctors refer patients to Registered Dietitians for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and/or diabetes because insurance companies will cover it. Not until recently have insurance companies begun to cover obesity. Many people do not want to pay out of pocket for this service.

	Why should I choose to pay to see a Registered Dietitian when I can join a commercial weight loss program? Meeting with an RD will ensure that some one is looking at your health history and an in depth nutritional assessment (which is usually determined in an intial 1 hour one-on-one session). RD's have had formal education (at least 4 years) and have had to pass a national exam. They are trained to provide precise nutrition recommendations based on your personal health issues and nutrition needs. At commercial weight loss programs, there is a "one size fits all or most" program. Sessions are with “counselors” who have variable training; the pay scale will screen out those most qualified. For example, an RD interviewed with a major company and was offered $5 per hour to start. The RD had a bachelors and masters degree and 20-plus years of experience.

	What differences would I expect to see from services provided by an RD versus a weight loss program? An RD will most often provide an eating pattern based on one's likes and dislikes and his/her usual way of eating. It will be designed to produce a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week, including information on nutrition for health issues, and some qualified RD's will provide recommendations for exercise. A commercial weight loss program will provide standardized menus, meal plans, recommendations and very rarely address health issues.

	What are the differences in cost I would expect to see with an RD vs a weight loss program? The initial fee for a session with an RD will cost $40 to $50 (costs vary across the country). Regular follow-up is planned with one's individual needs (financial, counseling, support) in mind. Assuming compliance with the plan and follow-up appointments (30 minutes) every three weeks, the program will last approximately 25 weeks for a person needing to lose 40 pounds (assuming a loss of 3 pounds the first week and 1.5 pounds thereafter). The cost of eight follow-up appointments is $160 to $200 ($20 to $25 each; costs vary across the country). In contrast, at a typical commercial program, the fee is frequently promoted as “lose all the weight you need for $49 to $195.” What is not obvious is that weekly food costs can run $40 to $50 (not including fresh produce, etc.). Weekly or daily weights are encouraged and/or required. Let’s assume a special low rate of $49 and a promised weight loss of 2 pounds per week. Assuming a loss of 4 pounds the first week, it will take her 18 weeks to lose the 40 pounds. The 18 weeks will cost nothing for the “counseling”, but food costs at $40 per week equals $720 or a total of $770.

	What other benefits will I receive from seeing an RD? Most importantly, changes in behavior are taught gradually over time using “real” food purchased at regular outlets. An RD will also provide tips on how to maintain weight loss, customize meals so they can be eaten with one's family, how to eat out and travel all while still sticking to "the plan".

About the Wisconsin Dietetic Association

The Wisconsin Dietetic Association is the link to nutrition and health in Wisconsin. This professional organization promotes registered dietitians and dietetic technicians as the nutrition experts through membership, continuing education, and legislative activities.

Members specialize in a variety of nutrition services including:

Weight Loss

Recommendations for losing weight safely
Diet pills and ins and outs of popular diets like weight watchers, atkins diet, zone diet, cabbage soup diet, low carbohydrate diet and others

Healthy Lifestyle Promotion

Optimum health, wellness, chronic disease management, soy nutrition, food guide pyramid, vegetarian diets

Women's Health

Osteoporosis treatment and prevention, healthy menopause

Diabetes

Development of diabetic diet meal plans, diabetes diets and diabetes recipes
Carbohydrate (carb) counting

Sports Nutrition

Training diets and menus

Heart Disease

Development of low cholesterol diet menus, low fat recipes and low cholesterol diets

Cancer Nutrition

Cancer diet, cancer prevention, eating tips for cancer treatment

Complementary Medicine

Complementary therapies that include vitamin and mineral supplementation, botanicals and functional foods as well as mind/body approaches

Critical Care

Specialized nutrition support and critical care nutrition

1.	Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure and worry that you could have a heart attack or stroke?

2.	Do you have or are you at risk for diabetes and want to prevent complications such as blindness or kidney failure?

3.	Do you have digestive problems, cancer, or food allergies?

4.	Are you pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding your baby?

5.	Are you concerned about your child’s weight or risk of becoming overweight?

6.	Does your teenager have issues with food, and possibly an eating disorder?

7.	Do you need to gain or lose weight?

8.	Are you thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery?

9.	Are you caring for an aging parent who is eating poorly and losing weight?

10.	Do you want to improve your performance in sports or just eat smarter?

	If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, or if you don’t know the answers, ask your doctor for a referral to a Registered Dietitian today!