Why You Should See A Dietitian On Your Weight Loss Journey

Achieving a weight loss goal is rarely an easy feat. Despite the message we might hear (or tell ourselves) that one “just has to eat less,” it’s not actually that simple. It’s all the more challenging to lose weight on your own when there’s a wealth of conflicting, vague, or just plain wrong information out there about nutrition. Having a team of experts to support you on your weight loss journey means that you can tackle your goal from multiple angles, and a Registered Dietitian should absolutely be a part of that team. Here’s what you get from meeting with one:

Optimization

You may already know what “healthy” eating looks like – many of our patients do. But a healthful diet is not necessarily the same thing as a diet that’s optimal for weight loss. Even with the most knowledgeable patient, a trained eye can usually pick out at least one or two habits that may hinder weight loss efforts. Additionally, most people underestimate how much they eat (in fact, a study done at Cornell University found that individuals considered “overweight” underestimate their calorie intake by roughly 40%). A dietitian can assess if excess calorie intake is a problem, and help you better understand the portion sizes that are appropriate for you.

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Personalization

There is no such thing as a “perfect” diet, nor is there a one-size-fits-all approach to eating for weight loss. Every individual has a unique medical history, body composition, lifestyle, dietary restrictions, and preferences. A dietitian understands this and gathers all of the information about a patient before offering specific advice tailored to that patient. To that end, dietitians are concerned with long-term sustainability – of weight loss, as well as eating habits – so dietary recommendations have to fit in with the individual’s lifestyle, and not the other way around.

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Support

A misconception about dietitians is that our role is to make you feel bad about your eating habits and take your favorite foods away – quite the opposite. Dietitians are not the food police; we’re not here to judge or scold. We are here to listen, educate, support, and guide you towards making the best possible food choices to help you reach your health goals. We can also provide you with accountability; having someone to check in with can help keep you motivated and on track.

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If you are considering or already taking medication for weight loss, it's essential to meet with a dietitian who is familiar with these medications to ensure you're fueling adequately and building good habits. For some, starting a new medication regimen can be nerve-wracking. Working with a dietitian allows you to have more frequent formal check-ins with a healthcare professional than is usually feasible with your doctor. And you will be more likely to reach your goals with a clear plan, support from multiple providers, and peace of mind that you're heading in the right direction.