The rate of type 2 diabetes is also increasing, from 3.8% in 1996/97 to 5.5% in 2011/12 (MOH, 2012). Society is becoming more and more obesogenic; obesity is becoming the leading health risk factor (MOH, 2016). Therefore, reducing the burden of obesity is an important public health issue due to its mortality, morbidity rate, and economic burden (Howatson & Wall, 2014). Public health dietitians can help reduce the burden of obesity, particularly because diet and nutrition play a very important role in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, public health dietitians are increasingly needed in New Zealand to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce obesity rates (Howatson & Wall, 2014). With the number of dietary trends and fads increasing, more public health dietitians are needed to provide the public with clear, knowledgeable, science-based, and accurate information about nutrition and diet , in order to increase health knowledge and education (Howatson & Wall,