Introduction to Working in Dietetics
Dietetics is an extremely varied and exciting profession.
Dietitians are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level. Uniquely, dietitians use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices. Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals to be statutorily regulated and governed by an ethical code, to ensure that they always work to the highest standard.
In general, dietitians work as part of a team, caring for people in hospital or in the community and supporting patients whose quality of life is linked closely with their diet. For example, a patient may have difficulty swallowing so a dietitian will devise a diet that enables the patient to get sufficient calories or they may support a patient with the process of eating after major surgery or serious injury. A dietitian may be also be working in the community, developing training for individuals with diabetes or working in a school supporting the implementation of healthy school meals.
Dietitians also work to promote good health and prevent disease by informing and teaching the public, health professionals and others about diet and nutrition. Dietitians help to promote healthy food choices and prevent disease by increasing awareness of the link between nutrition and health. However, many other career opportunities are available to dietitians, which make it such an interesting profession to join. Many dietitians work in the food industry, public health, education, sports nutrition, research or the media and a growing number decide to work in a freelance capacity.
If you are interested in people, food, science and medicine and want a job which offers a wide range of possibilities and the opportunity to excel, becoming a dietitian is the ideal career.
Dietetic support worker
Dietetic support workers work with dietitians in either a community or hospital setting. A dietetic support worker working in a hospital may, for example, be involved in assisting patients requiring special diets to choose from the hospital menu, collecting information regarding patients' intake and weight and liaising with the dietitian regarding patients' progress. Within a community setting, dietetic support workers may work with the dietitian to assess the food and health needs of local residents and assist in enabling people to eat a healthier diet to prevent disease.
Re-entering the profession
Dietitians often take a break from the profession for various reasons. Those dietitians who have taken a break for more than two years are required by the Health Professions Council (HPC) to undertake a period of updating their skills and knowledge before they can become re-registered with the HPC.
International dietitians and students
If you have completed your qualifications outside the UK there is a process to gain registration to enable you to work in the UK.
Also, if you are looking for information on studying to be a dietitian or undertaking a placement in the UK please read this section in further detail.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
