What’s the difference between nutritional therapist, nutritionist and a dietician?

9 September 2021

Registered Nutritional Therapists
Are qualified practitioners with a minimum of 3 years of study at university level 6 in the field of human nutrition. Nutritional therapists usually work in private practice offering bespoke plans which include both nutrition and lifestyle recommendation. Nutritional Therapists follow the Functional Medicine Model, an holistic model which looks at how different body systems interact with each other and how are impacted by nutrition, genetics and lifestyle recognising the uniqueness of each individual. The title is not protected by law, but Nutritional Therapists are regulated by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), a regulatory body, and a professional body such as the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT).

Nutritionist
Is not a protected title and practitioners operating in the nutrition industry can call themselves so. However registered nutritionists have obtained a university degree and usually work in research, education and in policy development. Nutritionists are regulated by AfN which governs the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN).

Dietician
is a title protected by law, obtained by someone who has a degree in Dietetics. Dieticians mainly operate within the NHS or research and are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and registered with the British Dietetic Association (BDA).