Janene Sacks (Weinstein) , Registered Dietician
082 561 0507
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Nutrition Questions Answered
Will my medical aid cover Dietitian-Nutritionist services?
Yes, depending on your plan, you should be able to claim back from your medical aid for dietician consultations.
What forms of payment does Janene Sacks, Registered Dietician take?
Payment is to be made via cash or eft at each consultation or upfront for packages. Clients can claim back from their medical aids for a refund, depending on their medical aid plan. Members on Compcare Wellness Benefit are fully covered.
What is the difference between a Dietitian and Nutritionist?
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public health level. They work with both healthy and sick people. Uniquely, dietitians use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.
Dietitians obtain a Bachelor of Dietetics from University and are the only nutrition professionals to be regulated by law, and are governed by an ethical code to ensure that they always work to the highest standard. They work in the public health care, private practice, industry, education, research, sport, media, public relations, publishing, government and Non Government Organisations (NGOs). Dietitians advise and influence food and health policy across the spectrum from government, to local communities and individuals.
A dietician (also spelt "dietician") can be referred to as a, Nutritionist, Diet consultant, Sports Nutritionist, Weight Loss Consultant or Weight Loss Expert. Only a dietician can be registered with the HPCSA and has completed a four year scientific degree. There is no standardised qualification criterion for any of the other titles described above. Clients are vulnerable to being provided with unscientific health & nutrition advice, fad diets (such as Atkins diet, South Beach Diet, blood group diet) & nutrition gimmicks if they do not consult as registered dietician.
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Can you self-refer to a dietician?
The title "dietitian" is protected by law. This means you're not allowed to call yourself a dietitian unless you're properly qualified and registered with the HPCSA. Registered dietitians are regulated by the professional association for dietitians, the British Dietetic Association. You can refer to yourself as a nutritionist if you feel qualified to do so.