Nutrition Public Health Nutritionists Public

Nutrition

Public Health Nutritionists

Public Health Nutrition consists of the promotion of good health through nutrition in order to reduce diet related illness within the population. The emphasis is on the health and well being of the entire population. This is done by developing programs that take into consideration all aspects of food and nutrition. This includes a wide range of partners at local, regional and national levels, for example, education, voluntary and community sectors. The increased importance on promoting public health and reducing health inequalities has provided great opportunities for nutritionists. The unique knowledge, skills and experience of nutritionists help to support the delivery of the public health agenda, in particular that of public health nutrition (Dietitians: working to improve public health through nutrition, 2008).

Most nutritionists contribute to public health by supporting dietary change to promote well being and prevent ill health. One way in which public health nutritionists contribute is by promoting the public health nutrition agenda. Across the UK a series of policies, strategies, initiatives and services have been developed to implement the public health and public health nutrition agenda (Dietitians: working to improve public health through nutrition, 2008).

Public Health Nutrition is the use of the science of nutrition for the benefit of the population as a whole, or sub-sections of the population. It includes promotion of good health through nutrition and the primary prevention of diet-related illness in the population. Although an important aspect of public health nutrition is establishing the relationships between nutrition and health or disease risk at a research level, equally important is nutrition-related health promotion. This comprises the type of work that is done by many of the nutritionists working in the food industry and related trade associations, government, health promotion, and by dietitians working in the community (All about Careers in Nutrition UK, 2004).

The definition used by the UK Nutrition Society for the science and practice of nutrition and the function of a nutritionist includes the following:

The science of nutrition includes all the physiological processes and biological interactions which occur between living organisms and the foods that they consume. These include the psychological, sociological, environmental (including ecological), cultural and technological factors which influence food choice, with a focus on the consequences for health.

The practice of nutrition is to move forward, apply and promote understanding of the effects of dietary components from farm to plate on growth, development, reproductive capacity, health and well-being within the population.

The function of a nutritionist includes research along with disseminating and applying scientific knowledge drawn from the relevant sciences to promote health and prevent diet-related illness within the population (NSA Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, 2007).

A nutritionist can clearly have a varied range of professional functions and operate in a wide variety of settings. Depending on the area a nutritionist may be involved in providing information and/or training programs, in identifying new issues and directions or developing, implementing and evaluating nutrition policy. Depending on the context they may also have to deal with environmental, educational, economic, legal, social, as well as health-related issues. Because of the diversity of functions there are many disciplines other than nutrition with the potential to contribute to the nutritionist's knowledge and skills. It follows that a range of different educational pathways can prepare individuals for the practice of nutrition. Nonetheless, it is essential that all nutrition practitioners must have, as part of their training, exposure to a basic core of knowledge and skills in the science and practice of nutrition (NSA Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, 2007).

In 1997, the Nutrition Society began a process to register individuals who are qualified in public health nutrition. Registration typically requires a degree in human nutrition plus a minimum of three years relevant post-graduate experience in public health nutrition. People achieving registration are known as Registered Public Health Nutritionists (RPHNutr). Associate registration is also available for graduates who are in the process of gaining sufficient work experience in order to apply for full registration. The Nutrition Society is also starting to accredit degree courses in public health nutrition so that this career path can be selected from the outset (All about Careers in Nutrition UK, 2004).

With the growing number of professions, the desire for external oversight and transparent accountability has grown. Professional limitations in the health sector are under pressure from the dynamic changes in the knowledge base, changes in the organization of health and social services, and an increasingly demanding litigious consumer-oriented society that we live in. Therefore most modern professions find it necessity to be dynamic and include continuing professional development. This requires a sturdy discipline base whereby research has an organic relationship with practice. It must be able to answer questions that arise in practice along with shape and redefine the evidence base for practice. Modern professions are increasingly becoming required to speak with a unified voice and to show meticulous oversight of their discipline. It is therefore vital that a coherent and rigorous accreditation process in the nutrition field is maintained, with the overall aim to: promote safe, sound and effective practice in Nutrition for the benefit and protection of the public and industry as a whole (NSA Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, 2007).