Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a nutritionist, nutritional therapist and dietitian?
There are many qualified professionals out there who are considered experts in the field of food and nutrition, but with so many different titles in use it can be difficult to establish who does what.
If you are looking for a professional who can help you to explore the relationship between food and your health, it may be of benefit for you to understand the differences between dietitians, nutritionists and nutritional therapists, and the key responsibilities and aims of each:
Dietitians
Dietitians must be trained to degree level or above, and are statutorily regulated by an organisation known as the Health Professions Council (HPC). This means that unless an individual has had their training and qualification’s assessed and approved by the HPC, they are not legally permitted to describe themselves as ‘Dietitian’s’.
Though this is not necessarily the case for all dietitians, the majority work primarily within an NHS setting, consulting with individuals who have special dietary needs. Patients with cancer and kidney disease for example, often require special dietary advice and supervision throughout the treatment and rehabilitation process.
Nutritionists
Nutritionists most commonly work in industry, education or research jobs that require them to apply their scientific knowledge of food.
Unlike ‘Dietitian’, ‘Nutritionist’ is not a protected title under statutory regulation and therefore anyone is able to refer to himself or herself as such, even if they do not posses adequate training and experience. However, there are various voluntary registers that have been developed for nutritionists who are qualified to provide general information about food but not advice about specific therapeutic diets.
Nutritional therapists
Nutritional therapists tend to work on a one to one basis with clients with a focus on optimising health and alleviating the symptoms of many common ailments and chronic conditions such as digestive and bowel disorders, weight concerns etc.
Similarly to nutritionists, law does not regulate nutritional therapists, though there are various voluntary organisations that require proof of qualifications in order to be listed.
For a more in depth explanation of the differences, please see our Understanding the difference between dietitians, nutritionists and nutritional therapists page.
What qualifications and experience should nutritionists have?
Although nutritionists are currently not regulated in the UK, there are professional bodies and societies that nutritionists can choose to register with. In order to register and become accredited, the nutritionist must meet certain requirements set by the organisation, complying with their code of ethics and complaints procedure.
What the requirements entail depends on the specific organisation. Generally these requirements will involve a high level of training and a certain amount of experience. Some organisations also have different levels of membership, with different sets of requirements, for example a level of membership for those who are still completing their training.
Below is a list of professional bodies for nutritionists. It is not an exhaustive list, but does features the main organisations. To find out more information about accreditation visit the professional bodies’ websites below.
Professional bodies:
This is the largest society for nutrition in Europe. The Nutrition Society aims ‘to advance the scientific study of nutrition and its applications to the maintenance of human and animal health'. They do this through research, hosting conferences, and increasing the profile of nutrition.
The Nutrition Society established the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists to recognise and encourage high standards of professional training in nutrition. On 1 March 2010 responsibility for the Register was transferred from the Nutrition Society to the Association for Nutrition.
The Association for Nutrition have responsibility for the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, that nutritionists can join. There are four conditions which applicants must meet before they are accepted onto the register:
- Have specialist competencies in nutrition or public health nutrition - most commonly a BSc (Hons) or MSc in a nutritional science or equivalent.
- Follow to and adhere to the Code of Ethics and Statement of Professional Conduct.
- Work within their own scope of practice.
- Keep up to date through Continuing Professional Development and continuously improve their knowledge, skills and application of the science based practice of nutrition.
- Know how to recognise the highest standards of scientific evidence in nutrition and apply these standards safely and effectively in their practice of nutrition
There are also two kinds of registrants:
Associate Registrants (ANutrs or APHNutrs) are recently qualified graduates from BSc or MSc courses in Nutrition or Public Health Nutrition.
Full Registrants (RNutrs or RPHNutrs) normally have at least 3 years professional experience within the field.
Federation of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners
The Federation of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners has two types of membership:
Full Member – open to those who have studied on a FNTP accredited course, which includes a BSc, Diploma or Certificate in Nutrition. Full Members may use the letters MFNTP after their name.
Student Member – open to anyone currently studying Nutritional Therapy. If the course is FNTP accredited upon completion the student may apply to become a Full Member. If the course is not accredited they may still apply and will be considered on an individual basis.
Members must also be insured, and agree to abide by the FNTP Code of Professional Conduct & Ethics and the Disciplinary & Complaints Procedure.
British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy
The British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy is the professional body for Nutritional Therapists.
BANT has the following membership classes:
Full Members: Full members are fully qualified Nutritional Therapists, subject to Continuing Professional Development and fully insured.
Fellow Members: Fellow members are BANT members who have made considerable contributions to the organisation.
Student Members: Student members are those enrolled on a nutrition/food science course at a BANT approved college, whose intent is to become a Full Member.
All BANT practitioners must have met the required standards of training, be fully insured and adhere to the BANT Code of Ethics and Practice.
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
Previously the Nutritional Therapy Council (www.nutrionaltherapycouncil.org.uk) held this register, until it was transferred to the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. The CNHC ‘quality mark’ is supported by the Department of Health.
The CNHC encompasses many types of alternative therapy, including massage, aromatherapy and nutrition.
In order to be admitted to the register a practitioner must:
- Have studied to the National Occupational Standards for that profession/discipline (National Occupational Standards (NOS) establish the levels of competence required in a particular sector and define the main responsibilities within a role. They give a clear outline as to what someone must to do in order to perform successfully in their job) or
- Have reached the equivalent of the National Occupational Standards through other relevant training or at least three years of experience and been assessed by their peers
- Provide an independent reference of their good character
- Prove that they do not hold a criminal record
- Have declared that they have no health issues that may affect their ability to practice
- Not have faced any disciplinary or civil proceedings against them in relation to their practice
- Have professional insurance
- Agree to abide by the CNHC Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics
- Have graduated from a course accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council. If the course is not accredited, then the applicant must produce a portfolio.
Training
Over the last few years, the number of courses in nutritional therapy has increased dramatically as the profession grows. There are now many undergraduate courses available, ranging from those focused on sport, food, diet, and public health nutrition.
There are also postgraduate courses, which generally give an opportunity to specialise in a particular area. If you are unsure about what the courses entail, any nutritionist would be more than happy to provide any details about their studies.
Do I need a nutritionist?
Most people can benefit from having a nutritionist, and there are many reasons for considering using one:
- With so many conflicting messages about healthy eating, a nutritionist can help sort through what applies to the individual, giving them confidence that they are eating healthily.
- Those who are in training for an event, e.g. a marathon, may benefit from a nutritionist to help them achieve their goals.
- People wanting to lose weight can also turn to a nutritionist to help them change their habits and become healthier, step-by-step.
- Those with diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes or irritable bowel syndrome can help control and manage their illness by knowing what kind of food is good for them, and what isn’t
- People recovering from a long-term illness often use a nutritionist as part of the rehabilitation process, building up their fitness in manageable steps
- With increasingly busy lifestyles, a nutritionist takes the hard work out of planning meals and fitting in exercising
- Those who have specific food allergies or follow specific diets can seek advise on making sure the body is getting all the nutrients it needs
So whether it’s for a specific reason, or just to help stay fit, healthy and confident, a nutritionist can be invaluable to anyone and everyone.
What will happen during the sessions?
How each nutritionist will carry out their sessions varies depending on the nutritionist, the client, and what the purpose of the sessions are.
Before the first session, the client may be asked to complete a questionnaire, detailing their diet, lifestyle, and any health problems they may have. During the first session the nutritionist will discuss the findings, going in greater detail. The nutritionist may make some simple recommendations that can be carried out straight away, and, if needs be, suggest some supplements. The nutritionist will also develop a personal plan, to be carried out and monitored long term. It will include meal plans, exercise regimes, supplements, and suggestions of any alternative therapy which may be beneficial.
The subsequent sessions then monitor progress, amending the plan as necessary, and providing motivation and support. These sessions may take place face-to-face, or some nutritionists may offer phone and email support instead of, or in addition to this.
Typically sessions last can last from 45 – 90 minutes, and the initial consultation will always be a longer session.
How do I choose a nutritionist?
Nutritionist Resource lists nutritionists from all over the UK and deciding which to choose may seem daunting. Read our 'Find' section on the Not sure where to start? page.
