Linda Hindle OBE is the Deputy Chief AHP Officer for England in the Department of Health and Social Care. Linda received a BDA Fellowship in 2025 in recognition of her outstanding and sustained personal commitment and contribution to the BDA and the profession for over 10 years in the field of obesity management and public health nutrition.
Linda has been actively involved in the association’s activities, serving on the BDA England Board for 15 years and is a former Chair of BDA Dietitians in Obesity Management (DOM UK), demonstrating her commitment to the profession.
As one of the few Consultant Dietitians in the UK, her obesity research has influenced dietetic practice globally. In her role as Deputy Chief Allied Health Professional at the Department of Health, she integrated dietetic services into public health strategies. She received an OBE for her contributions to Public Health, enhancing the profile of the BDA and dietetics, and improving obesity management practices and policies both in the UK and internationally.
In 2015, the BDA recognised her contribution by inviting her to deliver the Elsie Widdowson Lecture. Linda was awarded a fellowship by distinction from the Faculty of Public Health in 2024.
Linda is well-known in dietetics and public health. Her work has led to more dietitians participating in strategic health planning. Her research and publications have significantly contributed to the dissemination and advancement of evidence-based practice within the profession.
Linda shared what receiving a Fellowship means to her.
What does it mean to you to receive the Fellowship?
I was over the moon when I was contacted about the Fellowship. This is the most prestigious honour given by the BDA and I follow in the footsteps of some extremely prominent and inspiring dietitians. My current role is broader than dietetics, however I am always extremely proud to be a dietitian. It is a profession I love, which has created many opportunities.
To receive this recognition is both humbling and overwhelming, particularly because it is nominated by peers. Thank you to whoever nominated me.
What drove you to become a dietitian in the first place and be where you are today?
It was my chemistry teacher who initially suggested dietetics, so I am extremely grateful for to him for being well informed about the range of professions available. I had always been interested in food, so when I heard about the profession of dietetics, it felt like a natural fit.
Throughout my dietetic career, I have had a particular interest in public health and healthy weight. Good nutrition and dietetics are the foundations of good health and working in dietetics brings skills and experience around behaviour change, at both individual and population levels and a window into issues of social justice and health inequalities.
Who inspires you?
From a dietetic perspective, I am inspired by the many dietitians who continue to push the boundaries of the science and art of dietetics. It is amazing to be part of a profession which continues to develop both as a science and as a profession. We are fortunate to be in a profession where so many volunteer their time and expertise to develop and promote the profession.
From a broader perspective I am inspired by leaders who can see past their own objectives and develop systemwide solutions to improve the lives of the people they serve as well as the colleagues they work with. This type of leadership requires compassion, collaboration, inclusivity, creativity, pragmatism and the ability to make things happen.
What advice would you give to future dietitians?
Build and nurture your networks of connections. Our networks are so important to building our own experience and achieving change.
Seek out and take opportunities. This could be projects within your department, organisation or community or it could be joining a BDA specialist group. It might include stepping up to cover colleagues' work or writing up some of the work that you have done for publication. All these things may feel like an extra task pulling on your time, however I can honestly say that every opportunity I have taken has reaped more benefit than the time I put in.
Make sure you realise the value of your unique perspective and don’t be shy to share it. This is something that took me a while to realise - what I thought was obvious is not necessarily obvious to other people and vice versa. This is why diverse teams and diverse leadership are essential in healthcare.
Be humble, work as a team and ask for help when you need it.
What has been the highlight of your dietetic career to date?
I am fortunate that there have been many highlights some of which include:
- Obviously, this honour of a BDA fellowship
- Becoming the first consultant dietitian in obesity
- Leading two UK-wide AHP public health strategies and seeing the impact of that work
- Recognition in the form of Fellowships from the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal Society for Public Health as well as being an awarded an OBE in the Queen’s platinum birthday honours.
The success of the junk free checkout campaign which I was part of as Chair of the Obesity Specialist Group in 2012/13. We worked with the Children’s Food Campaign and brought in other partners such as the British Dental Association.
It was such a buzz to hear major supermarkets such as Lidl, Coop and Marks & Spencer’s announce that they would be removing sweets and chocolate from checkouts.
This was driven because of a survey we did with the support of Birmingham City Council, the Children’s Food Campaign and Slimming World, which gave a public perspective on the challenges of sweets at the checkout for parents.
