Many fields associated with health and medical science have greatly expanded in recent years, with a host of new specialties emerging. A comprehensive approach to health, incorporating diet, exercise, lifestyle, environment and mental wellbeing has led to a vastly improved view of our health issues.
The skills involved in becoming a nutritionist can have a huge impact on people’s health. Additionally, nutritionists can find themselves within a variety of different working contexts, so there are many interesting opportunities to be had if you choose this area to study in.
Although there is no requirement for nutritionists to have any particular formal education and training, there are a number of excellent routes into becoming a professional practitioner.
A host of degree and postgraduate courses are available across the educational institutions in the UK, that will equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a nutritionist.
What’s it all for?
The first question you need to ask yourself if you’re considering this field, is what sort of environment you’d like to work in once your studies are complete.
Health
Naturally, many nutritionists choose to work within the field of public health, working with individuals and communities to improve health through nutritional advice. In many cases, this type of work might involve working with a community to educate people in terms of nutrition, helping them to develop a healthy approach to food both for themselves and their families. This type of work is therefore essentially educational.
If you want to work within a clinical environment, advising individuals on the effects of nutrition on their health with regard for example to illness, you will typically have to work within a dietitian context. Dietitians specialise in this area, as they are primarily health practitioners, so if you want to progress within this field you may need to study and train as a dietitian yourself.
Industry
Out-with the health sector, nutritionists also work within industry environments. A typical job in this case might be working with a manufacturer of food or health products on a consultancy basis, advising them of the potential health implications of their products.
Sport and Exercise
Many nutritionists also work within sports environments, for example, working with individual athletes or sporting teams to advise them on the development of diets that will lend themselves to high performance. In some cases nutritionists will perform a similar purpose for people on specific exercise programmes, advising them on how the nutrients in their food will impact on their regime.
Research
Given that it is a continually developing field, there are also opportunities to work within research in the science of nutrition. This type of work will typically take place within academic organisations, and feeds into the future skills and knowledge gained by practitioners within the field.
Overall
Nutritionists work within a huge variety of different contexts, making it an attractive career option for people who are interested in food and health. As a practising nutritionist, you are in an excellent position to make a hugely positive contribution to the health and happiness of large numbers of people.
