One
of the most common questions we get asked is “what is the difference
between a dietitian, a nutritionist and a nutritional therapist?”
As they all use the science of food and diet to help their clients,
how can you differentiate between each type of practitioner?
On this web site you will find all three types of practitioners, all
of which will be operating a one to one private practice to help serve
your nutritional needs.
In
the UK one mainly finds two professionals in the field of
Nutrition. A Nutritionist and a Nutritional Therapist.
Professionals
in the field of dietetics are called Dietitians.
To help you better understand their roles, we have outlined the work
of each type of practitioner based upon the definitions set out by
their associated nutritional bodies, which include the British Association
for Nutritional Therapy, The Nutrition Society, and the British Dietetic
Association.
NUTRITIONAL
THERAPISTS
What
is Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional
therapy is the application of nutrition and health
science to enable individuals to maximize their health
potential. Nutritional therapy can help alleviate a
wide range of conditions and assist in the recovery
from many ill-health situations. Nutritional
therapists recognise that each person is an individual
who has unique dietary and nutritional requirements.
How
does a nutritional therapist work?
Nutritional
therapists assess nutritional status and functional
capacity. They recognize that each person’s needs
are unique, depending on a number of factors, from
inherited strengths and weaknesses to the influence of
diet, lifestyle and environment. Nutritional
therapists work with clients with chronic health
problems and provide advice on disease prevention and
control.
The
nutritional therapist will take a comprehensive client
history and may use biochemical and other types of
clinical assessment to formulate a treatment plan. In
addition to dietary and nutritional advice,
recommendations may include guidance on natural
detoxification, methods to support digestion and
absorption, procedures to promote colon health, and
also the avoidance of ingestion or inhalation of
allergens or toxins.
Taking
a whole systems approach, these protocols can impact
on hormonal, neurological and immune function. Many
parents now seek the help of nutritional therapists
for their children with weight and behavioural
problems.
Where
do nutritional therapists work?
Nutritional
therapists frequently work in private practice, often
seeing clients who have come to them via positive
reports from other clients or who have referred
themselves. In some cases nutritional therapists see
clients who have been referred by a consultant,
medical or dental practitioner or other health
professional.
Nutritional
therapists may also work in different environments
where their skills and competence are of benefit.
Qualifications:
Degree
or diploma courses in nutritional therapy.
There
are currently fourteen colleges and universities in
the UK who are part of the Nutritional Therapy Council
(NTC) Schools Forum, and who are working towards
accreditation of their courses during 2005-2007.
Courses must meet the standards set down in the
National Occupational Standards (NOS) and the NTC Core
Curriculum.
For
more information on how to qualify as a nutritional
therapist, please click here.
For
more information on the NOS, please click here.
Summary:
Nutritional
therapists make up the majority of nutritional practitioners
working in private practice with the general public. Although
still going through the throws of regulation, membership of
organisations such as the NTC and the British Association for
Nutritional Therapy (BANT) go a long way to protecting the
client and the therapist by ensuring the therapist has the
necessary insurance and training to deal one to one with the
public and that she/he is taking part in continued professional
development.
Associations:
In
the UK, there are two main bodies involved in
nutritional therapy.
Industry
Association: Nutritional
Therapy Council (NTC)
The
NTC is the regulatory body for nutritional therapy,
and as such, one of it’s main roles is to set
standards of professional conduct and performance in
the interest of the public. It also aims to set and
update as necessary the Core Curriculum (CC) and
learning outcomes to meet the competencies outlined in
the National Occupational Standards (NOS); set the
standards and requirements of Continuing Professional
Development (CPD); and accredit and license training
providers who meet the requirements of the CC and
learning outcomes.
Industry
Association: British
Association for Nutritional Therapists (BANT)
BANT
is the professional body for nutritional therapists.
The primary function of BANT is to assist its members
in attaining the highest standards of integrity,
knowledge, competence and professional practice, in
order to protect the client's interests, nutritional
therapy and the nutritional therapist.
To
clarify matters,
some nutritional therapists have in the past called
themselves nutritionists or clinical nutritionists.
This is usually due to the fact that previous courses
have trained practitioners in nutrition, and not
nutritional therapy. Also, as nutritional therapy is a
relatively new title in the public domain, some
practitioners have found it easier to be recognised as
a nutritionist rather than a nutritional therapist –
they use the title nutritionist for the benefit of the
public.
However,
it is very important to understand that as nutritional
therapy undergoes self-regulation for the protection
of the public and practitioner alike, only those
practitioners who are fully qualified and have
attained the NOS in nutritional therapy will be
allowed to call themselves nutritional therapists. ‘Nutritionists’
who do not reach these standards will have to undergo
further training and education in order to do so, or
they will not be able to be included in the Register
of Nutritional Therapists. All Nutri People
practitioners must have reached the standards that
allow them to be on the Register.
NUTRITIONISTS
What
is nutrition science?
Nutrition
science explores the capacity of an organism to
nourish itself. It defines supply and requirements
in terms of nutrients. It studies the effects of
nutrient supply on the organism’s functions, such
as physical activity, in health and disease.
Nutrition science studies the effect of diet on
metabolism and the interaction of the genes with
nutrients.
What
do Nutritionists do?
The
practice of nutrition science is to advance, apply
and promote understanding of the effects of
nutrients on growth, development, reproductive
capacity, health and well being in man and health,
welfare and productivity in animals.
The
function of a Nutritionist is to elicit, integrate,
disseminate and apply scientific knowledge drawn
from the relevant sciences, to promote an
understanding of the effects of nutrition, and to
enhance the impact of food on health and well-being
of animals and/ or people.
Where
do public health nutritionists work?
Nutritionists
work for a wide range of organisations (government
bodies, food manufacturers and retailers, trade
associations, health promotion departments,
charities, schools, colleges, universities, and so
on). Some nutritionists work as independent
consultants. Nutritionists can be involved in many
different fields of work including the development
of health initiatives, marketing and public
relations, sports training, media work, research, or
education.
In
the health field, nutritionists interpret nutrition
research to provide information for nurses,
dietitians, fitness instructors and other
professionals. In food manufacture and retail,
nutritionists work in teams that develop new
products and check nutritional claims.
In
the healthcare field, nutritionists and dietitians
often work closely together, but nutritionists do
not advise individual patients unless they are also
trained as dietitians or nutritional therapists. As
a general rule, nutritionists deal with groups and
healthy persons; however, any practitioner listed on
this web site as a nutritionist will be operating a
private one to one practice for the general public.
Qualifications
/ Requirements for Registration into the Nutrition
Society:
Either
1.
An
acceptable degree from a university or Institute of
Higher Education authorised to award degrees in an
appropriate subject Or
2. An
alternative qualification which is acceptable to the
Nutrition Registration committee Or
3. Evidence
to satisfy the Nutrition Registration Committee that
on the basis of substantial professional experience
of an appropriate nature and level the requirement
for 1 and 2 may be waived. Plus
Either 1.
Three year's relevant professional experience Or
2. Completion
of a PhD in an appropriate subject area at a
university or Institute of High Education And
Assessment of suitability for registration
For
more information on how to qualify as a
nutritionist, please click here.
It
is important to note that currently anyone can call
him or herself a nutritionist, as this is not a
protected title. Therefore a nutritionist may not
necessarily have completed a degree, or even a
diploma course in nutrition. Likewise,
membership
to
the Nutrition Society is open to applicants who can
demonstrate ‘a genuine interest in the science of
human or animal nutrition’ and support the Society’s
aim, ‘to advance the scientific study of nutrition
and its applications to the maintenance of human and
animal health'.
However,
to be included onto the Nutrition Society’s
voluntary
Register
of
Nutritionists, Public Health Nutritionists,
Associate Nutritionists and Associate Public Health
Nutritionists, nutritionists must reach the
standards outlined above.
Summary:
There
are many varied roles of a nutritionist but there is
a small number working in the UK in private practice
and only these members are listed on our web site.
Usually, these practitioners have also completed a
course in nutritional therapy, and are expected to
register on the Register of Nutritional Therapists.
Your
search results for a nutritionist will clearly
display their Nutrition Society registration number
which can be easily cross referenced directly on the
Nutrition Society's web site at
www.nutritionsociety.org.uk/membership/register/.
Remember,
Nutri People only accepts as members those
nutritionists who are on the Nutrition Society
Register, and who are working in private practice.
We do not accept academic nutritionists, as they are
inappropriate for our visitors needs
Associations:
The
Nutrition Society is a learned society, set up
‘to
advance the scientific study of nutrition and its
application to the maintenance of human and animal
health'. It
vigorously promotes professional nutrition and high
standards of professionalism in nutrition. The
Society holds voluntary
registers and
is working towards the protection of the title ‘nutritionist’
in order to protect the public and promote high
standards.
Dietitians
work with people and science. They are trained to
graduate level and are experts in diet and nutrition.
Dietitians are skilled in taking scientific information
relating to food and health and translating it into
terms that everyone can understand. The title 'dietitian'
is protected and in order to work in the NHS, dietitians
must be on the Health Professions Council (HPC) register.
Dietitians
work in a variety of settings and with a number
of different people. These include:
Hospitals
- After qualifying, most dietitians go on to do clinical work
in the National Health Service where they advise those who
need a modified or special diet, such as people with a food
allergy or diabetes. They work in hospital wards, ranging
from general medical wards to intensive care, and in out-patient
clinics.
Community
- Community dietitians are involved in
health promotion, clinical work, or a mixture of
both. They help to promote healthy food choices
and prevent disease by increasing awareness of the
link between nutrition and health.
Sports
Nutrition - Sports dietitians provide expert
advice on all areas of nutrition for sport. Their
job is to help athletes understand that what, when
and how much they eat and drink can have an effect
on their performance
The
Food and Pharmaceutical Industry - There
is a wealth of opportunities for dietitians to work
with industry. Many work directly for a food manufacturer,
food retailer, or a pharmaceutical company or may
work with a public relations company representing
an industry client.
Freelance
- Many dietitians choose to be self-employed and seek opportunities
to work in a wide range of areas:
with
the media
advising the food and pharmaceutical industry
in private practice
in publishing, such as consumer magazines and
books
Only
dietitians working in private practice are listed
on this web site.
Summary
While the majority of dietitians work within the
NHS or other outlined roles, there are a growing
number working in private practice in the UK and
our database of practitioners will only list dietitians
working in this capacity.
All registered dietitians have an HPC registration
number which is clearly displayed in your search
results and can easily be cross referenced online
at the health professional councils web site: http://register.hpc-uk.org/lisa/RegistrantSearchInitial.jsp
Always check their
registration and ask if they are a member of the British Dietetic Association,
which provides their professional indemnity insurance.
Associations:
The British
Dietetic Association (BDA) was formed in 1936. It is the professional
association representing dietitians in Great Britain and Northern
Ireland. To be a member you must hold a recognised dietetic
qualification and most are qualified with a degree or postgraduate
diploma recognised for Registration by the Health Professions
Council. The Association negotiates, on behalf of its members,
salaries and conditions within the National Health Service.
Members of the Association serve on the Health Professions
Council, the body granting statutory registration to qualified
dietitians, which is compulsory for employment in the National
Health Service. The role of the BDA is to inform, protect,
represent and support its members.
Industry Association: British Dietetic
Association Web Site: www.bda.uk.com Telephone: 0121 200 8080
As
a brief summary:
Nutritional
Therapy is undergoing self-regulation, and while ‘nutritional
therapist’ is not a protected title, the voluntary Register of
Nutritional Therapists has been put in place to protect the public
and practitioners, and will only include practitioners who have
reached the National Occupational Standards set down by the
government.
‘Nutritionist’
is not a protected title, however the Nutrition Society is working
towards this, and has in place the voluntary Register of
Nutritionists, Public Health Nutritionists, Associate
Nutritionists and Associate Public Health Nutritionists. This last
type of nutritionist (Associate Public Health Nutritionists) is
not qualified to work on a one to one basis with private clients.
'Dietitian’
is a protected title and only those people who have completed a
degree in dietetics may legally call themselves such.
