David Rath, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Background & Credentials as a Registered Dietitian

David Rath has been a registered dietitian*, licensed to practice in Arkansas since 1991. During this time he has provided nutrition expertise to businesses, government and the general public. He has recently received the Excellence in Practice Award from the National Public Health Nutrition Director's Association. Other awards include: Cancer Information Service award for cancer prevention & health promotion, gold and silver awards for excellence in public health communication from the National Public Health Information Coalition, and Emerging Dietetic Leader of the Year. While serving as a registered dietitian, David also studied nutrition for sports performance, weight management and wellness, and provided consultation in all of these areas.


David's credentials and experience as a registered dietitian and nutritionist are as follows:

  • Degrees in both dietetics and psychology, as well as a graduate degree from the University of Arkansas
  • Nutrition Chief for the Arkansas State Health Department for six years
  • National Certificate of Training in adult weight management
  • Member, Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Member, Weight Management Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Past Chair, nutrition committee of the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention
  • Past Member, Executive Committee of the National Fruit and Vegetable Council
  • Past member, Arkansas Governor's Council on Fitness
  • Past president, Central Arkansas Academy of Nutrition
  • Past board member, Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Works with recreational, scholastic and professional athletes and athletic teams of various sports
  • Serves as a nutrition expert for broadcast and written media
  • Has given numerous presentations to national and statewide conferences and organizations
  • Lectures in nutrition for the UAMS Department of Dietetics Internship Program
  • Published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Journal of Chronic Disease Prevention

*Defining Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist and Other Terms

Credentials and experience are important when seeking a health professional, such as a nutritionist. You may encounter a "licensed nutritionist," "nutrition counselor," "certified nutritionist," "certified dietitian nutritionist" or other related terms. Only those with certain credentials may call themselves registered dietitians, however. A registered dietitian has the equivalent of a 4-year college degree in dietetics, followed by a structured internship of supervised practice at an internship program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, and then must pass a national registry exam. To maintain the registered dietitian credentials a dietitian must complete 75 hours of continuing education hours every 5 years. To be licensed to practice nutrition in Arkansas, a dietitian must maintain these national registration credentials.

Get your personalized weight loss plan and nutrition and wellness advice from a registered dietitian. Contact David Rath Nutrition today and get on the road to a healthier lifestyle!

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