What's the difference between a nutritionist, a dietitian, and a nutrition coach?
What is a nutritionist? Well, when someone calls themselves a nutritionist (or nutrition coach), it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve got the qualifications behind them. The term 'nutritionist' is not a protected title, and anyone who claims to be an expert in the field of nutrition can technically call themselves a nutritionist. Although they may be able to call themselves a nutritionist or coach, these individuals won’t be able to belong to a professional governing body. A professional body, such as BANT, supports its members in attaining the highest standards of integrity, knowledge, competence, and professional practice, and working with a BANT registered nutritionist means that your interests as a client are protected.
Unlike nutrition coaches, or unregistered nutritionists, a registered nutritionist would have spent many years studying to provide their clients with evidence-based information and guidance about the impacts of food and nutrition on health and wellbeing. Always check that any healthcare provider you take advice from is fully insured, and registered and regulated by a governing body.
On the other side of the coin, dieticians generally work within the NHS and public health sector. They should hold a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, and would be regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council. Only dieticians and registered nutritional therapists are trained in clinical practice to give one-on-one personal health advice, and both groups must practice with full professional indemnity insurance.
“Always check that any healthcare provider you take advice from is fully insured, and registered and regulated by a governing body like BANT”
I take my role as a registered nutritional therapist very seriously — I’m fully insured, appropriately qualified, and hold a recognised qualification in Nutritional Therapy, plys membership with two governing bodies, BANT and CNHC. I’m also a member of The British Menopause Society and The Institute of Functional Medicine. Using a Functional Medicine approach, I assess and identify potential nutritional imbalances, and understanad how these may contribute to an individual's symptoms and health concerns. My private clinic specialises in weight management and weight (fat) loss programmes, hormone health (such as PCOS), perimenopause and menopause, endometriosis, anxiety, and stress. As a BANT registered nutritionist, I’m able to provide one to one consultations, group programmes, memberships, corporate workshops, events, and comment via media outlets such as TV, print, and digital publications.