New Zealand
Australia
Auckland-based Nutrition Consultants prides itself on providing evidence-based advice to people wanting to manage their weight.
With so much contrary, pseudo-scientific information about how to lose weight available online it can be hard for people to know what to believe, says Nutrition Consultants owner MaryRose Spence.
“People are confused about what they should be eating and what’s good or bad for them and how to lose weight. We keep it simple and evidence-based and our advice is based on food science,” says MaryRose, a registered dietitian with more than 30 years experience.
While Nutrition Consultants specialise in weight loss, MaryRose and her colleague, registered nutritionist Brigid Chunn, also see patients with a range of other issues including bowel problems, raised cholesterol levels and low energy. They also give high performance athletes nutrition advice.
Body composition monitor
MaryRose, who is also a published author, says the use of a body composition monitor to assist patients has been a game-changer.
“This wonderful piece of equipment gives us more information than just a person’s weight, it tells us how their body is made up. Knowing how much of a person’s weight is body fat and much is muscle mass helps them and us understand their metabolism,” she says.
“We can then provide a diet that is tailor made to that person. I’ll talk them through the results and about the science of food and what they need to be eating at each meal and why.”
MaryRose says people feel better when they are eating the right combination of food for their particular body.
“Where I place certain foods in their day gives them appetite control and they can confidently lose weight and keep it off. They don’t feel hungry and they can lose weight much more easily,” she says.
“The repercussions of weight loss are huge and there are a whole lot of flow on effects. You have more energy, you can decrease blood pressure, you can come off diabetes medication, you can be less prone to certain cancers, the list goes on.”
Practical advice
MaryRose sees a lot of people who have been given inappropriate dietary advice.
“There are a lot of cowboys out there whose advice is not evidence-based like ours.”
She says when she gives advice, she tells people how they should do things not just what they should do.
“I like to be very practical, visual and hands on in my practice.”
That includes whipping up a tasty, healthy, vegetable recipe each week that patients can sample and try cooking themselves if they like it.
MaryRose has patients from all age groups, including people in their eighties as well as patients based ouside of Auckland and overseas.
“Food can give us great energy and health, but it can also take our energy and health away.”
How to refer to Nutrition Consultants:
- open the patient record
- launch the HealthLink homepage
- using the CareSelect bar, type “Nutrition Consultants”
- click “Compose Referral”.