British Nutrition Foundation

Diet and nutrition considerations are increasingly influencing people’s lives as research continues to strengthen the link between poor diet and ill health. Its influence can be seen in the advice given to patients by health professionals, in the purchasing behaviour of consumers, in the manufacture and retail of food and in the development of government policy in education and science. The government white paper ‘Our Healthier Nation’ records that 57000 people, under the age of 65, die of cancer and cardiovascular disease each year in the UK. Inappropriate nutrition is a major contributory factor which carries with it an economic burden. However, the agriculture and food sector in this country provide 3.2 million jobs and a revenue of billions. No wonder the public and commercial interest in food, diet and health and the political need to realise the economic success of achieving a healthier nation.

Many career opportunities now exist in nutrition. 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 are also a variety of careers within the field of food science and technology. Most people pursuing a career in nutrition become nutritionists or dietitians.

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. His 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.

The Nutrition Society has 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 Nutritionist (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. Some accredited courses are now available. Details can be obtained from the Nutrition Society (the address is given below).

Dietetics is the interpretation and communication of the science of nutrition to enable people to make informed and practical choices about food and lifestyle, in both health and disease. A dietitian will have undertaken training in both hospital and community settings as part of his/her course and will give practical advice to individuals concerning their diets. Most dietitians are employed in the NHS, and they work with healthy and sick people, as well as their families. With patients who need special diets, dietitians 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 or a nutrition related subject and State Registration in Dietetics to work as a dietitian. Some universities offer courses combining the degree with the State Registration qualification, otherwise State Registration is achieved following a short post-graduate course. The British Dietetic Association has a leaflet called Puzzled about qualifying as a Dietitian? Which provides information on degree course entry requirements (the address is given below).

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, and on a freelance basis.

Universities and colleges that run BSc course 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 module 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 1 a and for more information on dietetics, write to the British Dietetic Association at : BDA, 7 th 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.

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