If you have a health condition such as obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, your physician or health care provider may have recommended that you seek dietary advice from a registered dietitian (RD). But what is a registered dietitian, where can you find one and how can he or she help you?

If someone is called a registered dietitian or has the initials RD after his or her name, he or she has obtained a bachelor's or master's degree in an approved curriculum in nutrition, has had a year-long internship (approved and accredited by the American Dietetic Association) and has passed a national nutrition examination. In addition, to remain accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, a dietitian must continue to obtain nutrition education to make sure that his or her knowledge is current.

What can a dietitian do for you? An RD can help you develop an eating plan based on your goals and your health conditions - whether you need to lose weight or reduce your cholesterol levels. If you have special nutritional needs because you're a vegetarian or pregnant, a dietitian can also ensure you're consuming adequate nutrients, vitamins and minerals. A dietitian can also point you to other resources within the community, such as local support groups.

Talk to your physician or health care provider for recommendations to local registered dietitians. You can also access the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) Find a Dietitian database at http://www.eatright.org/find.html or call the ADA at 800-877-1600.

Sources:  American Dietetic Association, http://www.eatright.org