metaboliqWho does what
Dietitian, nutritionist or doctor: who does what in weight loss
Each of them does something the others do not. A doctor finds out why your weight behaves the way it does, a dietitian or nutritionist turns that into food you can live with, and the order you see them in changes how well the plan fits.
Start with the test: Health assessment, collected at home and read with you by a registered doctor, ₹1,799.
Three roles
What each one is trained to do
The titles get used loosely, so it helps to separate them by the job each person does rather than by the name on the door.
| Doctor | Dietitian | Nutritionist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training | A medical degree, and a registration with a medical council that you can check. | A degree in food, nutrition or dietetics. In India the registered dietitian credential is awarded by the Indian Dietetic Association after an examination it sets. | A broader title covering people trained in nutrition science to different depths. |
| Reads your blood report | Yes. Reads every marker against your history and looks for thyroid, insulin, hormone and liver causes. | Uses the results a doctor has read to shape what you eat. | Uses the results a doctor has read to shape what you eat. |
| Builds the food plan | Sets the direction and any limits your health calls for. | Yes: meals, portions and timing, including for health conditions. | Yes: meals, portions and timing around your goals and your routine. |
| Decides on clinical care | Yes. Decides with you whether any clinical treatment fits, and refers you to a specialist if one is needed. | No. Works alongside the doctor. | No. Works alongside the doctor. |
The right order
Why the doctor comes first when weight has been hard to move
When weight has not responded to eating less and moving more, the reason is often in the blood. Insulin that runs high, a thyroid that runs slow or a liver carrying fat each changes what a sensible food plan looks like, and none of them can be seen from a diet diary.
So the doctor reads a blood panel first and names what is going on. The dietitian or nutritionist then plans from that reading instead of from a template, and the plan is set up to work with your body rather than against it.
An endocrinologist is a specialist in hormones. Most people do not need one to start: a doctor reads the panel, and refers you on if your thyroid, insulin or other hormones need specialist care.
How Metaboliq does it
The doctor and the nutritionist, on one team
It starts with a home blood test and a registered doctor who reads it with you on video. The assessment also includes a session with a health coach and your personalised plan around day 3.
If you and your doctor decide a programme suits you, a nutritionist joins your care team with a health coach and a fitness coach, all working from the same report. Our wider team includes 200+ nutritionists and 50+ doctors.
Questions
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
A dietitian has a degree in dietetics, and in India can hold the registered dietitian credential from the Indian Dietetic Association. Nutritionist is a broader title. Both plan food; the difference is the depth and kind of training behind the title.
Which doctor should I consult for weight loss?
Start with a doctor who will read a full metabolic blood panel with you: sugar control, insulin, thyroid, lipids and liver. That doctor can refer you to an endocrinologist if your hormones need specialist care.
Do I need a registered dietitian for weight loss?
You need a food plan that fits what your blood shows and a routine you can keep. A trained dietitian or nutritionist can build it; it works better when a doctor has read your report first.
One next step
Find out what your blood shows
Health assessment: ₹1,799. Blood test, 45+ metabolic markers, Collected at your home, A doctor reviews your results, A decision on whether this is right for you, A nutritionist on your care team, Health Coach, A personalised plan around day 3.