Public Health Nutrition

Overview

We will support you to develop the professional skills required for a successful career in the field – working to improve the diet and nutritional status of individuals, communities and populations with the aim of improving health and wellbeing, and reducing the burden of disease. The Public Health Nutrition course is offered at Robert Gordon University .

Food and nutrition policies for improving health and preventing chronic disease are required worldwide. Undernutrition and obesity are global public health problems, and food security and sustainable diets are of increasing importance as we adapt to feed a growing population whilst mitigating the effects of climate change on food production.

Job Prospects

Public health nutritionists provide information and advice on food, diet and their impact on health and wellbeing. They play a key role in managing malnutrition; reducing intakes of saturated fat, sugar and salt; improving consumption of fruit, vegetables, oily fish and fibre; and preventing development of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. In addition, public health nutritionists develop, implement, monitor and evaluate nutrition policies and programmes. 

They carry out research to generate an evidence base linking food and nutrients to health and disease, and apply scientific knowledge to ensure understanding of the impact of food and diet on health and wellbeing. They work to improve the diet, nutrition and health of people and communities, and address inequalities in nutrition and health.