How many dietitians are there in the uk

Recognized credential e. RD : RD. Type: Full Dietitians. Number: Type: Students. Settings where dietitians services are most commonly employed may be employees or consultants in private practice :. Other common settings for employment of Dietitians' services:. Advocacy association in the health field e. University, college, institute Media Pharmaceutical company or association Recreation or sports facility or association School or school system.

However, food remains the biggest item of expenditure after housing, fuel and power for those in the lowest income households. Obesity continues to be a disease of poverty, with children from the most deprived areas being more than twice as likely to have obesity in reception or year six than children from the least deprived areas.

This gap continues to grow. One could be forgiven for being demoralised about such a challenging set of figures, but there are some positives. Red and processed meat intakes are now below the recommended 70g per day or less for every age group except adult men , and even there the trend is a downward one. This is positive news when it comes to the environmental impact of the food we eat. As our One Blue Dot toolkit helps explain, reducing intakes of red and processed meat are good for us and good for the planet!

During these years of expansion, the dietetic workforce has changed. The profession is carrying out extended roles that were unthinkable 10 years ago and have introduced new roles such as dietetic support workers, assistant practitioners and nutritionists to the dietetic workforce.

Alongside the increase in NHS employed dietitians, the number of dietitians choosing to work outside the NHS and setting up in private practice has also increased. The dietetic workforce is changing at great pace with the profession in demand to work across a variety of areas including health and social care, public health, industry, sports nutrition, research to name but a few. You will also advise on food and health policy at a national, local and individual level.

Dietitians are a key part of the healthcare team and are the only nutrition professionals that are statutorily regulated. With experience, you may be involved in training and mentoring pre-registration students, as well as supporting and supervising less experienced staff. In other roles, you may be involved in developing new food products and evaluating their nutritional content, setting up and monitoring clinical trials, or advising the food and pharmaceutical industry.

There are on-call and special-duty allowances for dietitians working in the NHS. In London and the South East, a cost of living allowance is available. Salaries outside of the NHS vary depending on the size of the employer, the nature of the work and expertise of the dietitian.

If you're working in the NHS you're likely to work a standard Elsewhere, you'll usually work 9am to 5pm, but may need to work some extra hours or weekends if required. If you're self-employed, your hours will need to suit your clients' availability and may include evenings and weekends. To achieve this, you must complete an HCPC-approved programme in dietetics, either an undergraduate degree or, if you have a degree in a relevant subject, an approved postgraduate course.

To be accepted on to a two-year postgraduate course either a Postgraduate Diploma or a Masters in dietetics you must have a life sciences degree, often a or above, that contains an adequate level of human physiology and biochemistry. Relevant degree subjects may include:. Both routes are full time and include a mix of theory and practical training in a hospital or community setting. Subjects covered may include biochemistry, human nutrition, human physiology, diet therapy and nutritional medicine, as well as skills such as communication and research.

For more information, see Health Careers. Entry into the profession without an approved degree or postgraduate qualification is only possible at the level of dietetic assistant practitioner. From here your employer may support you in studying for an approved degree to then become a dietitian. Arrange a visit to a dietetic unit at your local hospital before applying for a course so you can get an idea of what the work is like and whether it would suit you. Try to get some voluntary or paid work experience within a dietetic department to show your interest and understanding of the area.

Contact the dietetic manager at your local hospital to ask about opportunities. Working as a dietetic assistant practitioner or as a dietetic support worker provides a valuable insight into the role and shows your commitment.