What is a Dietitian?

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level.

Uniquely, dietitians use the most up to date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.

 

Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals to be statutorily regulated, and governed by an ethical code, to ensure that they always work to the highest standard.

All practising dietitians in the UK are required to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The Council vets new registrations and audits its members on a rolling program ensuring that they continue to promote their own development through Continued Professional Development.

The term Dietitian is actually protected by Law; this means that only an individual who has received the appropriate training can legally describe themselves as a dietitian.

The training is typically a full time 4 year undergraduate degree course or a post graduate diploma. Both routes require regular clinical placements in NHS Trusts.

If you would like further information about the training to become a dietitian then there is a wealth of information on The Association of UK Dietitians website.

The Association of UK Dietitians is the professional body that supports Dietitians in the UK and has been doing so since it was founded in 1936.