Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Looking to be a researcher in the subject of weight-loss

Hi,
I'm a practical engineer in software engineering. I'm programming for over a decade and been employed for the last 5 years.
I'm looking to change my profession and become a biologist.
I'm not looking to become a biologist in any area, but specifically in the field of weight loss. I wonder what a biologist is doing in his job - I'm intending to research the specific body and cell mechanisms that trigger weight gain and fat preservance and to try to think of ways to counter them.
I heard the salaries of this field are very low, this is why I'm intending to move out of my country to Europe in order to get a better salary.
Is being a biologist a job of a thinker and researcher in order to try to help making new medicine and in this way to help the world? or a job of a smart "factory worker", mixing of materials such like a laboratory technician, for some big boss who is planning on you to get rich?
Where and how can I get started the field of weight loss?
P.S. I'm not looking to study nutrition, since I do not believe in an approach by the means of a diet.