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 have more than 13,000 members and we have an ambitious 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:
Watch our video interviews with members spanning generations of the BDA
Stay tuned for our final video in November!
Spilling the tea on dietetics with member number one
With her own 90th birthday on the horizon, there was no one better to speak to as we celebrate 90 years of the British Dietetic Association.
Spilling the tea on dietetics with the BDA's future leaders
In this latest edition of our 'Spilling the tea on dietetics' series, graduate dietitian Kyle Kennedy and dietetic student Nat Leeman share how volunteering with the BDA has helped shape their journeys into the profession.
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!
30 badges left! It's your last chance to get your hands on our limited-edition 90th anniversary badge. You just need to answer the following question: What is your favourite thing about dietetics?