Tell me about it
Experts on the relationship between food and health, dietitians work mainly in the National Heath Service (NHS), advising people on how to make positive changes to their diet in order to maintain or improve their health. Dietitians must be able to explain scientific information in a way that everyone can understand. Their clients may include people with diabetes or food allergies, people with weight problems or eating disorders, people who have difficulty swallowing or people with medical conditions, like heart or kidney problems, which mean that they need to follow a special diet.

Dietitians usually work on hospital wards and in outpatient clinics, sometimes specialising in a particular area, such as children's medicine or cancer care. They may also work in the community, advising individuals or groups on the right foods to eat for a healthy lifestyle, visiting schools to talk to students or work with caterers to improve school meals, and offering diet-related guidance to other healthcare professionals like GPs, nurses and midwives, as well as to voluntary groups, public health authorities and social services.

There are also opportunities for dietitians outside the NHS, including: advising athletes and sports coaches about the best diet and nutritional supplements to improve sporting performance; working for food and drug companies, setting nutritional standards, giving advice about nutrition to the company and to customers, and answering customers' questions; working in the media, producing articles for newspapers, magazines, radio and television programmes; training student dietitians and other healthcare workers like nurses and GPs; working in research, investigating new ways of working, improving treatment and using new technology.

Entry level
Prospective dietitians must successfully complete an approved BSc or MSc degree course in Dietetics or Human Nutrition and Dietetics. You must then register with the Heath Professions Council before you can practise.

The minimum entry requirements for degree courses are five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) and two A levels/three H grades. These should include maths and English at GCSE/S grade, together with chemistry, and another science subject, or maths, at A level/H grade. You must have a good command of spoken and written English. Alternative qualifications, such as BTEC science qualifications or Access courses in science, may also be acceptable.

BSc courses are available at: Coventry University, Glasgow Caledonian University, King's College, London, Leeds Metropolitan University, London Metropolitan University, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, University of Nottingham, University of Surrey, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and University of Ulster.

For MSc courses, you should normally have an honours degree that contains an acceptable level of human physiology and biochemistry. Postgraduate MSc courses are available at Chester College of Higher Education, Glasgow Caledonian University, King's College, London, Leeds Metropolitan University, London Metropolitan University, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and University of Ulster.

NHS funding is available for the majority of places on approved degree courses. This means that your fees are paid and you are eligible for a means-tested bursary.

Making the grade
As part of your course, you would spend 28 weeks on practical work experience placements in the NHS.

After around two years working in the NHS, you may apply for more senior posts. Higher-grade dietitians have managerial responsibilities or specialist clinical knowledge. You could register for the British Dietetic Association's Diploma in Advanced Dietetic Practice, which is an aid to continuing professional development.

Personal qualities
You would need to be a good team worker, who enjoys working with people and helping them. Excellent communication skills are essential, as you would have to explain technical information to clients of all abilities. Given that some clients may be reluctant to change their eating habits or may have weight problems and eating disorders caused by emotional problems or low self-esteem, you would have to be mature, tactful and sensitive, with good motivational skills and boundless patience.

You must be able to work with people without judging them, accepting that people with limited budgets may not be able to afford expensive food, and that the cultural or religious backgrounds of some clients may affect their eating habits.

Looking ahead
Dietetics is one of the fastest growing healthcare professions, so opportunities for employment and career development are good. The NHS is the main employer of dietitians in the UK, but you may also find work with food and drug companies, sports and fitness clubs, supermarket chains and private healthcare providers. Dietitians are also employed in education, research and the media.

There is some scope for self-employment, providing your services to a variety of organisations on a consultancy basis, and there could also be the opportunity to work overseas with charities and relief organisations. The British Dietetic Association produces a monthly list of vacancies in both the NHS and the private sector.

Alternative suggestions
If you want to work with people on health-related issues, you might consider training as a nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist, radiographer or speech and language therapist. If, on the other hand, your main interest is in food and nutrition, you might prefer to explore a career as a catering/restaurant manager or food scientist/technologist.

Take-home pay
Newly qualified dietitians in the NHS earn around £19,000, rising to £50,000 for a consultant, with extra pay and allowances for working in London and south east England. In general, salaries tend to be higher in the private sector.

Effects
In the NHS, you would normally work 36.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday, although you might have to be on call to cover evenings, weekends and holidays. Part-time work and job share opportunities are usually available.

Being able to drive would be useful, as you might have to travel from place to place for your work.

Sources of information
British Dietetic Association: www.bda.uk.com
NHS Careers: www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/

CRCI: JG