The BDA is the professional association and trade union for dietitians

The Role of Dietitians

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. Dietitians work in the NHS, private practice, industry, education, research, sport, media, public relations, publishing, NGOs and government. Their advice influences food and health policy across the spectrum from government, local communities and individuals.

The title dietitian can only be used by those appropriately trained professionals who have registered with the Health Care Professions Council and whose details are on the HCPC web site. We have a leaflet that explains the roles of nutrition professionals further.

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Finding a Dietitian

The title dietitian can only be used by those appropriately trained professionals who have registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and whose details are on the HCPC web site. We have a leaflet that explains the roles of nutrition professionals further.

Most people will be able to see a Registered Dietitian within the NHS after being referred by an NHS GP, doctor, health visitor or other medical staff. Contact the Dietetic Department at your local hospital to enquire whether they operate a ‘self-referral’ system. Consultations with dietitians within the NHS are free.

Alternatively if you wish to see a Registered Dietitian who practises privately, you can search on-line for a dietitian near you at the Freelance Dietitians web site, which is run by the BDA's Freelance Dietitian Group.

Front of Pack Food Labelling

A new front of pack food labelling system to help people check the healthiness of products is being introduced across all supermarkets today by all four UK governments.

Labels will include information on guideline daily amounts (GDAs), be colour coded with a traffic light system and use the words "high", "medium" or "low" to inform people about how much fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories are inside.

New Iodine Food Fact Sheet and New Research Around Iodine During Pregnancy in The Lancet

BDA member Dr Sarah Bath has been involved in a study of around 1000 UK mothers and their children, published in The Lancet. The study has revealed that iodine deficiency in pregnancy has an adverse effect on children’s mental development. The research raises concerns that the iodine status of pregnant women is a public-health issue that needs to be addressed.

The BDA has also published a new Iodine food fact sheet writen by Dr Bath.

New Malnutrition Guide for UK will Save Lives and Tens of Millions of Pounds Each Year

A new guide was launched in May called Preventing and Early Intervention of Malnutrition in Later Life (best practice principles and implementation guide).

The guide, jointly produced by the British Dietetic Association and the Malnutrition Task Force, sets out and defines the principles of best practice, the moral, legal, quality and financial case for changes in tackling malnutrition in people in later life in the UK. Read more about the malnutrition guide.

Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition: on-line

Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition is a unique and dynamic resource developed by dietitians for dietitians in order to deliver evidence-based guidance to nutrition practice questions. The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is a collaborative member of the Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN) alongside Dietitians of Canada and Dietitians of Australia and New Zealand.

The unique PEN resource, usually costing £300, is available to BDA members of as part of their annual subscription, and the BDA is working closely with the PEN Team to build and develop the UK content. PEN subscriptions are available for purchase by non-members.

Developed by Dietitians of Canada with input from thought leaders in nutrition and dietetic practice, knowledge translation and technology, its powerful search tools and 'Knowledge Pathway' format are designed to deliver evidence-based guidance to nutrition practice questions as well as providing easy links to nutritional tools and resources for clients and professionals.

Read more about PEN ...