What’s the difference between a Nutritionist, Dietitian, and a Nutritional Therapist?
These job titles may sound similar but there are many differences between them. Their qualifications, regulatory body, professional registration, and the scope of their practice all differ.
Nutritionist
The regulator for Nutritionists is the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and their professional membership body is the Nutrition Society. A Nutritionist that is registered with the AfN has at least an honours-degree level of knowledge in the field of nutrition science and has met the competency requirements needed for registration. Nutritionists that are registered with the AfN are qualified and competent to provide evidence-based information, and they keep up to date with current scientific research through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The title of Nutritionist is not protected by law in the UK and registration is not necessary to work, however, only those that have registered with the AfN on the Voluntary Register of Nutritionist (UKVRN) can call themselves a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) or a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr). A qualified nutritionist can provide evidence-based information on food and healthy eating to people at an individual or population level. They can work in various sectors including the food industry, government, research, sports and exercise, and freelance as consultants. To look for a Registered Nutritionist or to check if a Nutritionist is currently registered with the AfN you can search the UKVRN from here.
Dietitian
The regulator for dietitians is the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and their professional body is the British Dietetic Association (BDA). The Dietitian title is protected by law and only qualified Dietictans registered with the HCPC can use this title. Registered dietitians have achieved at least a BSc Hons in Dietetics and tend to work in the NHS or in private clinics. They can give nutritional advice to sick patients to help treat or manage their medical condition. To look for a Registered Dietitian or to check if a Dietitian is currently registered with the HCPC you can search the registered from here.
Nutritional Therapists and Diet Experts
Regulation for Nutritional Therapists and Diet Experts is through the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or The General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT) and is not compulsory. Their membership body is the British Association for Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) or the Federation of Nutrition Therapy Practitioners (FNTP). Nutritional Therapists work within the field of complementary and alternative therapies and there are various course options, with different lengths of study and delivery styles, to choose from to gain their qualification. They usually see people on a private basis and offer alternative/complementary treatments, often selling products or supplements to their clients.
References
Association for Nutrition., 2023. What Nutritionists do? [online] [viewed 10 December 2023]. Available from: https://www.associationfornutrition.org/careers-nutrition/what-nutritionists-do
Association for Nutrition., 2023. What Nutritionists do? [online] [viewed 10 December 2023]. Available from: https://www.associationfornutrition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2016-09-01-Nutrition-Professions-Comparitive-Summary.pdf
British Dietetic Association., 2023. Dietician or Nutritionist? [online][viewed 10 December 2023]. Available from: https://www.bda.uk.com/about-dietetics/what-is-dietitian/dietitian-or-nutritionist.html