Careers and Training in Nutrition

Nutrition is the study of nutrients in food, how the body uses nutrients, and the relationship between diet, health and disease. Most of the major food manufacturers and retailers employ nutritionists and food scientists but opportunities also arise in journalism, government, research, health promotion and education. There is also a variety of careers within the field of food science and technology.

Public Health Nutrition is the application of the science of nutrition for the benefit of the population as a whole, or sub-sections of the population. It encompasses promotion of good health through nutrition and the primary prevention of diet-related illness in the population. Although an important facet of public health nutrition is establishing the relationships between nutrition and health or disease risk at a research level, equally important is nutrition related health promotion. This includes the type of work conducted by many of the nutritionists working in the food industry and related trade associations, and by dietitians working in the community.

In December 1997, the Nutrition Society launched a scheme to register individuals qualified in public health nutrition. Registration usually requires a degree in human nutrition plus a minimum of three years relevant post-graduate experience in public health nutrition. Individuals achieving registration are known as Registered Public Health Nutritionists (RPHNutr). The Nutrition Society is also beginning to accredit degree courses in public health nutrition so that this career path can be selected from the outset. It is expected that accredited courses will begin to be available in 1999. Details can be obtained from the Nutrition Society (the address is given below).

Dietetics is the application of the science of nutrition to the construction of diets and the selection and preparation of foods. A dietitian will have undertaken training in a hospital as part of his/her course and will give practical advice to individuals concerning their diets. Most dieticians are employed in the NHS, and they work with both healthy and sick people, as well as their families. With patients who need special diets, dieticians use their scientific knowledge to provide practical information that is appropriate to the patient’s medical history and lifestyle.

It is necessary to have a degree (BSc or MSc) in nutrition and dietetics to work as a dietitian. The British Dietetic Association has a leaflet called Puzzled about qualifying as a Dietitian? That provides information on degree course entry requirements (see below for the address).

These days a considerable proportion of dietitians spend some or all of their time working in the community rather than in a hospital. Many of these are eligible to apply for registration in public health nutrition as well as being state registered dietitians. In the community, the dietitian’s work is more about health education, although many also run clinics in doctors’ surgeries for people who need specialist dietary counselling. Dietitians also work in research, the food industry and education.

Universities and colleges that run BSc courses in nutrition and/or dietetics and postgraduate diploma courses in dietetics are: Glasgow Caledonian University; Leeds Metropolitan University; King’s College, London; *Nottingham University; *Oxford Brookes University; Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh; University of North London; University of Ulster, Coleraine; *Southampton University; University of Surrey, Guildford; Robert Gordon University; Aberdeen; University of Wales Institute, Cardiff; *South Bank University, London.*courses run at these universities do not lead to state registration in dietetics.

Postgraduate (MSc) taught courses focusing on nutrition are offered at: Aberdeen University; Glasgow University; King’s College, London; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Oxford Brookes University; Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh; Robert Gordon Institute, Aberdeen; Sheffield University; Southampton University; University of Surrey; and University of Ulster.

Other opportunities. Some other universities and colleges offer courses such as food science, biochemistry, home economics, and food technology that include modules/joint courses in nutrition. These include: University of Bradford, Chester College, University of Greenwich, University of Huddersfield, University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Roehampton Institute, University of Teeside. More details can be found in the UCAS Handbook.

Also, the Open University has modules on food and health. Contact: The Centre For Continuing Education, The Open University, PO Box 118, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA.

For more information

Consult appropriate university and college guides for information on specific courses and entry requirements, which vary considerably.

For the addresses of universities offering courses that lead to registration in dietetics, see BNF Fact Sheet 1a and for more information on dietetics, write to the British Dietetic association at: BDA, 7th Floor, Elizabeth house, 22 Suffolk Street, Birmingham B1 1LS, enclosing a large stamped self-addressed envelope (website: http://www.bda.uk.com)

A fact sheet on nutrition courses is also available from the Nutrition Society, 10 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7NJ (website: http://www.nutsoc.org.uk)

For further information about opportunities in food science contact The Institute of Food Science and Technology, 5 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7NJ.

Depending on your specific interests, it may also be worth contacting the Institute of Home Economics, Hobart House, 40 Grosvenor Square, London, SW1X 7AE.

What about non-degree courses?

There are very few non-degree courses in nutrition and those that do exist are not recognised by the Dietitians Board or the Nutrition Society as a suitable basis for a career in nutrition or dietetics. However, if you are simply interested in improving your knowledge, it is worth enquiring about courses at local colleges/evening class centres because they may offer modules or courses on general nutrition. These types of courses will be useful for people such as fitness instructors or beauty therapists who wish to know more about basic nutrition. These courses are not designed to train participants to give detailed dietary advice.

There are a number of private colleges that offer courses in nutrition but these can be expensive and the qualifications obtained may be of limited value as they are not recognised by the professional organisations that represent the interests of conventionally qualified nutritionists and dietitians.

The British Nutrition Foundation Training Courses

One-day courses can be arranged for between 8 and 20 people who need to know more about general nutrition for their work (e.g. people working in the food industry, education, government, public relations or in the health service). The basic course gives participants an initial grasp of the subject, while the intermediate course covers the effects of diet on health. Half-day workshops on specific subjects, such as coronary heart disease or nutrition labelling, can also be organised. The courses cost £75-£200 per delegate. Contact the BNF’s Science Secretary for more information.

LOOKING FOR A CAREER IN DIETETICS ?

All the courses below provide eligibility for State Registration as a Dietitian as recognised by the Dietitians Board of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. For further information about the courses and entry onto them, please contact the college or university directly.

BSc (Hons) Degree in Human Nutrition

BSc (Hons) Dietetics& Dietetics

Queen Margaret College, Clerwood Terrace, EdinburghEH12 8TS Tel: 0141 337 4000

Glasgow Caledonian University,1 Park Drive, Glasgow G3 6LP Tel: 0131 317 3000

BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Dietetics BSc Nutrition and Dietetics (Hons)

Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB9 1FR Tel: 01483 300800

University of Surrey, Surrey GU2 5XH Tel: 01224 262000

BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition BSc/BSc (Hons) Dietetics

The University of Ulster, Cromore Rd, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA Tel: 01265 44140

Leeds Metropolitan University, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3HE Tel: 0113 283 2600

BSc (Hons) Applied Human Nutrition BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Dietetics

University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Faculty of Community Health Sciences, Western Avenue, Llandaff.

Kings College London Kensington Campus, Camden Hill Rd, LondonW8 7AH Tel: 0171 333 4268

BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Dietetics

The University of North London, Holloway, London N7 8DB

POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA COURSES IN DIETETICS

Glasgow Caledonian University 1 Park Drive, Glasgow G3 6LP Tel: 0141 337 4000

Kings College London Kensington Campus, Camden Hill Rd, LondonW8 7AH Tel: 0171 333 4268

Leeds Metropolitan University Faculty of Health and Social Care, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3HE Tel: 0113 283 2600

University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Faculty of Heath and Community Studies,Colcester Avenue, Cardiff CF3 7XR Tel: 01222 551111

The University of Ulster, Cromore Rd, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA Tel: 01265 44141

HOME AND PART TIME STUDY

There are no correspondence courses in Dietetics although some colleges and universities are developing study routes which offer flexibility, including part time courses. Please contact the colleges and universities directly about these.

FUNDING

Many local authorities assist students resident in their areas. In Scotland you should apply to the Scottish Education Department and in Northern Ireland to the local Education and Library Board. All students may apply for student loans.

THE BRITISH DIETETIC ASSOCIATION

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) was formed in 1936 and incorporated in 1947. It is the professional association for qualified dieticians in the UK, and a condition of full membership is the holding of a recognised dietetic qualification. The BDA is represented on Functional Council, Professional and Technical Staffs ‘A’ of the Whitley Councils for the Health Service (Great Britain). This body negotiates salaries and conditions within the National Health Service. Members of the association serve on the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine and the Dieticians Board thereof, the body granting statutory registration to qualified dieticians, which is now compulsory for employment in the National Health Service.