On 24 January 1936 at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, the first meeting of the BDA took place.
Since that first meeting, the BDA has grown, developed and diversified, to become the respected and valued professional body and trade union for the whole of the UK dietetic workforce that you see today.
Our core purpose is to be the trusted collective voice of dietetics, dedicated to protecting, serving and advancing the interests of the BDA community, through our expert leadership in food and nutrition.
This collective voice comes from strength in our membership. From just 77 members in 1936, our community has continued to grow, reaching 973 members in 1961 and 2,200 members by the mid-1980s. Today, we are nearly 12,500 members and we have an mbitious goal to reach 20,000 satisfied members by 2034.
In 90 years, there has and continues to be much change. However, one constant remains - our commitment to supporting you. It is our privilege to serve you.
Hear from BDA Chair, Susan Price as we reflect on 90 years of the BDA:
Let's take a look at dietetics through the decades
Share your photos with us
We're proud to have supported dietitians and their work for 90 years. Through this time, we've met countless members at the BDA office and at awards, events and courses. We'd love to see your photos from these occasions - you can submit them using the form below. We look forward to seeing them!
Win a 90th anniversary badge
To mark the milestone of the BDA turning 90, we have 90 limited edition badges to give away.
Throughout the year, we will be running three competitions, with 30 entries on each occasion receiving a keepsake 90th anniversary BDA badge. You'll have to be quick though - it's first come, first served!
The first 30 badges have gone! Keep an eye on our e-newsletters and social media channels - we'll let you know when the next competition launches.