Dietitian vs Nutritionist vs Nutritional Therapist
This article was written by our clinic dietitian, Annabel Leather.
Nutrition, food and health tips are everywhere you look on social media. They are posted by food and wellness bloggers yet finding reliable and evidence-based advice can be tough. It is so easy to be influenced by celebrities with millions of followers rather than trust-worthy advice by regulated professionals. Social media influencers have created an ‘eat like me, look like me’ approach, and many are paid to recommend supplements, food products, diets tips and ‘superfoods’. However, most of them will have had minimal nutrition education, if any at all.
With the internet and social media full of advice, who can you trust? You may have heard of nutritionists, nutritional therapists and dietitians, but what do they all mean?
Registered Dietitian
The title ‘Dietitian’ is the only food and nutrition title protected by law. Dietitians will usually have obtained a 3-4 year university degree, or post graduate qualification on a Nutrition & Dietetics course which has been accredited by the British Dietetic Association (BDA). In the UK, only people registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) can use the title ‘Dietitian’. The HCPC’s main purpose is to protect the public. In addition to Dietitians, the HCPC also regulate other health professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.
Dietitians keep up-to-date with evidence to continue their professional development. As part of their training, dietitians undergo supervised practice in an NHS setting where they must achieve clinical and professional competence to pass. Dietitians are often based within the NHS, however many will also work in private clinics, food industry, workplace, catering, public health, sport and media.
To check a UK based dietitian is on the register, click here: https://www.hcpc-uk.org.
Nutritionist
The title 'nutritionist’ is not protected by law so technically anyone can call themselves one. There is no set exam or course to pass to use this title, meaning qualifications could range from someone completing a 2-week course to a 3-year university degree, but both use the term ‘nutritionist’!
Thankfully, the Association for Nutrition (AfN) has created a UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) to help distinguish nutrition practitioners who meet the competence, training, and professional practice criteria. This helps to protect the public and assures credibility of the advice given. Nutritionists on this register will use the title ‘Registered Associate Nutritionist’ (ANutr) or ‘Registered Nutritionist’ (RNutr).
Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr)⠀
These graduates will typically have received a BSc Hons or MSc in nutrition science within the last 3 years. After 3 years of experience, they can apply to be a Registered Nutritionist.
Registered Nutritionist (RNutr)⠀
In addition to meeting the requirements of an ANutr, usually after 3 years registered associate nutritionists can apply to become a Registered Nutritionist. Registered Nutritionists must show ongoing, consistent development and practice in a specialist area of a nutrition competency such as sport, public health, nutrition science or food.
To check a ANutr or RNutr is on the register, click here: https://www.associationfornutrition.org/register/search-the-register
Nutritional Therapist
Nutritional Therapists are recognised as complimentary therapists who work within the field of complementary and alternative therapies. Their advice is based on a mixture of science and some non-evidence-based practice. They cannot apply for UKVRN or HCPC registration. The membership body for nutritional therapists is the British Association for Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) available here: https://bant.org.uk or they can register with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, although this is not compulsory: https://www.cnhc.org.uk.
Many nutritional therapists will use evidenced based nutrition practice. However, some also promote commercial dietary supplements including mega doses of vitamins and minerals or commercial allergy testing, neither of which are NHS approved. The Association for Nutrition say ‘there are many areas where the work of a nutritional therapist contrasts with our Code of Ethics, Conduct and Performance, and in which our Registered Nutritionists may not work in’. As complementary and alternative medicine are treatments that usually fall outside of mainstream healthcare, the NHS recommends you also seek advice from your GP.
Ultimately, whoever you decide to get your nutritional advice from, it is important that you ask to check their qualifications and be confident you are receiving the correct information.
References
Association for Nutrition: https://www.associationfornutrition.org/careers-nutrition/what-nutritionists-do Accessed 21.01.22
Association for Nutrition: https://www.associationfornutrition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Nutrition-Professions-Comparison-Document-02.2018.pdf Accessed 21.01.22
British Dietetic Association: https://www.bda.uk.com/about-dietetics/what-is-dietitian/dietitian-or-nutritionist.html. Accessed 21.01.22.
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/ Accessed 21.01.22
To book an appointment with one of our clinic dietitians, please click here.