How Much Does a Nutritionist Cost in the UK?

Nutritionists provide evidence-based guidance around the impacts of nutrition and food on the health of humans. Nutritionists are important as they use their knowledge of food and science to help people make better choices around what they eat, and how it can improve their health. Knowing all this, how much does a nutritionist cost to see?

The cost of a nutritionist in the UK can vary widely from around £50 to upwards of £150 per hour. This generally is the cost for one session, though multiple sessions or packages are usually recommended for ongoing support and guidance.

What is a nutritionist?

A nutritionist is an individual who is able to give information and support around dietary choices. However, these are not in relation to specific medical conditions. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, even if they do not have any actual qualifications. But only those who are registered by the governing body the AfN (Association for Nutrition) can use the title of Registered Nutritionist.

There are two different types of Registered Nutritionists:

• Registered Associate Nutritionists (ANutrs) are those with a minimum of degree level knowledge and are qualified nutritionists to be able to provide evidence-based guidance.
• Registered Nutritionists (RNutrs) will have the above as well as a certain number of years of experience as a nutritionist and have demonstrated that they can apply nutritional knowledge and provide advice within their areas of expertise.

Nutritionists commonly work as freelancers, in public health or in the private sector. They may work alongside dietitians in a more clinical setting.

Why do you need a nutritionist?

There are many reasons why you may find seeing a nutritionist helpful. For example, if you are someone who struggles to implement healthy dietary habits, nutritionists can offer personalised recommendations on ways to overcome challenges. They can provide recipes to help you improve the overall nutrient density of your diet, such as adding more vegetables or pulses. If someone has a goal of losing or gaining weight, a nutritionist can support with this by providing example meal plans and recipes and tailoring meals to the client’s needs and requirements.

Nutritionist and Dietitian prices in the UK

The average cost of a session with a nutritionist can be around £75 per hour, compared to the average cost of a session with a dietitian being around £120 per hour. This is dependent on a number of factors, including location of meeting, the experience of the nutritionist, and the types of services provided or offered in the session time.

Average price breakdown:

• Nutritionist: Around £75 per hour
• Dietitian: Around £120 per hour
• General Range: £50 - £100+ per hour (depending on expertise and location)

The price to see a dietitian is higher as they will require a minimum bachelor degree and often further training, which is something nutritionists are not required to have. Dietitians are the most qualified nutrition councillors available, and are able to provide specific support on managing medical conditions, which nutritionists are not generally qualified for. A nutritionist is not qualified to provide specific support for medical conditions such as diabetes or cancer. If you are looking for support for a specific medical condition, a dietitian would be an option to consider.

Service and Package Options

You may also find packages on offer when seeing a nutritionist or dietitian, that allows a number of sessions in a certain period of time. This can help you understand how much a nutritionist or dietitian costs per month. The time of each of these sessions can vary.