Choosing the right nutrition professional for you can feel confusing, especially when you’re dealing with frustrating or painful symptoms like bloating, IBS, acid reflux or ongoing gut discomfort. While dietitians and clinical nutritionists both work with food and health, our training, focus and approach can differ in important ways.

​

Here’s a clear comparison to help you decide which is the best fit for your needs.

​

Clinical nutritionists (like Kym Lang BNutr at pip nutrition)

Clinical nutritionists are trained in nutritional science with a strong focus on preventive health including gut health, physiology including digestive function, and health behaviour change. Many complete tertiary degree-level qualifications in nutritional medicine (BNutr), studying biochemistry, physiology, pathology and clinical assessment.

​

What sets clinical nutritionists apart:

• Holistic, whole-person care: Nutrition, digestion, stress, sleep, hormones and lifestyle are explored together.

• Longer, more personalised consultations: Time to fully understand your symptoms, history and health goals.

• Root-cause approach: Rather than managing symptoms alone, clinical nutritionists investigate underlying drivers and triggers of digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating and food sensitivities. This is often done in partnership with your GP.

• Food- and lifestyle-first strategies: Practical, sustainable nutrition changes tailored to real life, so you can find a way of eating that works for you long-term and feel more confident around food.

• Strong focus on gut health: Particularly helpful for functional digestive conditions where symptoms fluctuate or don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis.

​​

This approach is especially suited to people seeking IBS support, digestive healthcare or ongoing gut symptom management in a supportive setting.

​

​Clinical nutritionists are accredited by the Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA) or the Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists (AARPN). Accredited clinical nutritionists hold a nationally-recognised degree, are eligible for health fund claims, have full insurance, First Aid training and are required to complete training hours every year to stay up to date with latest evidence.

​

Dietitians

Dietitians are also tertiary trained and are well-suited for:

• Hospital-based or acute medical care

• Enteral (tube) feeding

• Complex gastrointestinal conditions requiring strict clinical protocols

• Working with hospital or medical healthcare teams

 

In some clinical settings, dietetic consultations are often shorter and more protocol-driven, with less emphasis on fitting dietary changes around your lifestyle and food preferences or providing support to embed them long-term.​

​

Which is right for you?

If you’re seeking personalised, evidence-based support for gut health, IBS, bloating or digestive discomfort, a clinical nutritionist is often the best fit, particularly when symptoms are fluctuating; linked to lifestages like perimenopause or menopause; or you can benefit from motivation and empowerment to build healthy habits and manage your symptoms.

 

If you require hospital-based medical nutrition therapy or urgent clinical care for chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, a dietitian working with your specialist may be an appropriate choice. Post-diagnosis and treatment, a clinical nutritionist can support your diet and cooking skills, helping you build evidence-based nutrition approaches into your life to manage your symptoms and wellbeing.

​​

At pip nutrition, Kym Lang, clinical nutritionist (BNutr) provides clinical nutrition consultations for clients in Hampton, Bayside and surrounding South East Melbourne suburbs, with a focus on digestive health, IBS and other gut-related issues. Follow-up appointments are available via telehealth, supporting clients across Victoria.