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| | | A registered dietitian, or RD, provides consultations to clients who wish to eat more healthfully, lose weight or use diet to manage an illness or condition such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, heart disease, fibromyalgia or diabetes. | | |
| Typical costs: | - For patients not covered by health insurance, a one-hour initial consultation with a registered dietitian, or RD, typically costs about $100 to $200 -- usually on the higher end if the dietitian comes to your home. If follow up visits are required, they typically cost $50 to $150 each, depending on length of consultation and whether the dietitian comes to your home.
- A consultation with a registered dietitian or nutritionist is sometimes covered by health insurance, especially for patients with diabetes, heart disease, or another condition that could require a change in eating habits. For example, these plans for Ohio state employees cover a limited number of medically necessary consultations per year at 80 percent or for a $15 copay.
- For patients covered by health insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would be about $10 to $40 -- usually a copay or 10 to 20 percent of the total cost of the visit.
What should be included: | - Many registered dietitians will ask the client to keep a food diary for several days before the consultation.
- At a consultation, the registered dietitian usually will review the food diary or interview the client about meal and snacking habits; assess the current caloric and nutritional intake; look for nutritional deficiencies or excesses in the current food intake; and make personalized diet recommendations based on the patient's goals and health conditions.
- For convenience, some registered dietitians, such as those at Cleveland Clinic, offer consultations via e-mail or phone.
Additional costs: | - A registered dietitian might recommend classes on healthful cooking, which can cost $10 or more each.
- Some dietitians offer optional additional services, such as personalized grocery shopping and pantry stocking, that can cost $450 or more, plus the cost of groceries.
Discounts: | - Some registered dietitians offer packages of consultations at a discount from purchasing each session individually. For example, the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, offers three sessions for $225 up to eight sessions for $510. And Kitchen Coach, in the Los Angeles, California, area offers a package of four follow-up sessions for $450.
Shopping for a nutritionist: | - A registered dietician, or RD, has completed a four-year degree program and an internship, and is required to complete regular training to maintain credentials. A dietetic technician, registered, or DTR, has completed a two-year degree program and passed a national examination. The American Dietetic Association provides a fact sheet on registered dietitians and dietetic technicians.
- The American Dietetic Association offers a locator by zip code.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Article updated August 2009 |
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