Choosing the right Nutrition Expert for your Child
As a parent, finding the right nutrition expert for your child can be really confusing. Many people claim to be experts but not all have the proper qualifications. This blog will help you understand the differences between Dietitians, Nutritionists and Nutritional Therapists so you can make the best choice for your family's needs.
Who are Dietitians?
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. They work with both healthy and sick individuals (children and adults) and use the latest scientific research to provide practical dietary advice.
Regulation and Qualifications:
Dietitians are regulated by law and must be registered with The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To qualify as a dietitian you need to undertake an approved programme at a university (either a BSc Hons in Dietetics, or a related science degree followed by a postgraduate qualification in Dietetics). Dietetic students undergo rigorous training, including supervised practical placements in NHS settings. I undertook three practical placements as part of my training (two at St Mary’s Hospital, London and one at James Cook Hospital, Middlesborough).
Where They Work:
Dietitians work in the NHS, private clinics, the food industry, education, sports, the media and more. They are involved in developing health policies and often work in teams to manage complex health conditions.
Dietitians provide evidence-based advice on managing health conditions, planning exclusion diets, and using nutritional supplements. They can also prescribe and manage certain medications related to nutrition. What’s written in the media regarding nutrition can often be confusing/misleading. Dietitians help make sense of nutrition and can help people and families make meaningful changes to their health and wellbeing.
How do you find a Dietitian?
You can search the BDA website for a freelance dietitian by area. You can always double check your dietitian is HCPC registered by looking on the HCPC register.
Ultimately you have to choose a paediatric dietitian who you would like to work with! I am friendly and understanding, I have years of experience working with families from all walks of life and I completely get the struggles of providing food for children having 3 of my own (and no they don’t all eat really ‘healthily’ all of the time)!
Please get in touch if you would like to find out how I can help.
You can find me on the HCPC register , BDA Freelance Directory and through Bupa find an expert.
Who are Nutritionists?
Nutritionists provide information on food and healthy eating. They often work in public health, policy, education, research, and the private sector.
Regulation and Qualifications:
The title 'nutritionist' is not protected by law. However, those registered with the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) are known as Registered Nutritionists (RNutrs). They meet standards set by the Association for Nutrition (AfN). There are two categories of registrant:
Registered Associate Nutritionists (ANutrs) are individuals with a minimum of honours-degree level knowledge (BSc Hons or MSc in nutrition science within the last 3 years). They are qualified and competent to provide evidence-based information.
Registered Nutritionists (RNutrs) additionally have a number of years professional practice experience and have demonstrated they are both qualified and competent in the application of nutrition science within their specialist area.
Where They Work:
Nutritionists typically work in non-clinical settings, including government, charities, academia, the food industry, freelance and education. Some may work alongside dietitians in the NHS or as freelance consultants. I have lots of colleagues who are Nutritionists and have collaborated on projects with them before.
What They Offer:
Registered Nutritionists can work with individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, providing the services they are providing are not in respect to the nutritional management or treatment of their medical condition (unless in collaboration with the healthcare professional who is managing the individual’s condition) and the support/advice provided is not in contraindication with any dietary management of their medical condition. Registered Nutritionists can also work with acutely-ill patients in the support of their nutritional management or treatment if they are practising within a multidisciplinary team and the management/treatment is under the close supervision of a regulated health professional such as a medical doctor or dietitian.
Who are Nutritional Therapists?
Nutritional therapists focus on dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent or alleviate health issues, often using complementary medicine approaches.
Regulation and Qualifications:
The title 'nutritional therapist' is not legally protected. Training varies, and while some courses are accredited, many are not recognised by formal medical bodies.
Nutritional Therapists are recognised as complementary therapists and work within the field of complementary and alternative therapies. There are three regulatory bodies for nutritional therapists. You can look through the information on the websites of the three regulators available for nutritional therapists (Federation of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (FNTP), General Regulatory Council of Complementary Therapists (GRCCT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)) or that of the membership body for nutritional therapists (British Association for Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine (BANT)), to find out more about the practice of nutritional therapists.
Where They Work:
Nutritional therapists usually work in private practice, offering one-on-one consultations.
What They Offer:
Nutritional therapists sometimes recommend high-dose supplements, detox regimes, and avoidance of certain foods, though these methods may lack robust scientific backing. They are not authorised to prescribe NHS-approved medications.
Conclusion
When seeking nutritional advice for your child, it's crucial to understand the qualifications and regulations of the professional you choose.
Paediatric Dietitians are the most rigorously trained and legally regulated, making them the safest option for managing a child’s medical conditions.
Always verify the credentials and registration status of your chosen professional to ensure you receive safe and effective advice.
