Dietitians play an important role in healthcare, providing expert advice and guidance on food, nutrition, and diet to keep us healthy and treat a wide variety of patients with specific diseases and conditions. 

Did you know that there are specialist dietitians that focus on managing particular symptoms? 

One of these specialisations is gastro dietetics.  

Immune Health researcher and Accredited Practicing Dietitian Dr Georgina Williams explains, “A gastro dietitian focusses on helping people manage gastrointestinal symptoms.  

“Gastro dietitians have often done additional training in dietary management of gut conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, and functional dyspepsia,” says Georgina. 

Georgina did Honours at the Royal Prince Alfred Allergy Unit where she saw a lot of patients with debilitating gut conditions.  

“I quickly realised how gut symptoms have the potential to impair quality of life, and how diet can have a major impact on managing these symptoms,” says Georgina. 

Beyond this, Georgina says she fell in love with the emerging science around the microbiome.  

“In my final year of Nutrition and Dietetics I started to learn about the magical and mysterious world of the gut microbiome. I was so intrigued by how diet influences these unseen members of our gut community, and how this likely has huge implications for many areas of health.  

“This led to me doing a PhD focused on diet and the gut microbiome. I am now very passionate about helping people manage their gut symptoms and optimise their gut microbiome in a way that focuses on inclusion rather than exclusion of foods,” says Georgina.  

Georgina sees people experiencing bloating, reflux, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain. These symptoms can be the result of a disease or disorder relating to any area of the gut including the esophagus or stomach but they’re not always related to a specific condition.  

“Gut symptoms be onset by certain medications, food intolerances, surgeries, motility disorders, infections or mental health (via the gut-brain axis!). I work with people who have symptoms because of these factors too, including everyone from babies to the elderly,” says Georgina,  

A consultation with a gastro dietitian explores many things, including medical history, diet, mental health, sleep, stress and physical activity.  

Georgina says that beyond dietary interventions, treatments may also include referrals to a gastroenterologist, pelvic floor physio or psychologist, and strategies relating to sleep and stress management.   

“We monitor symptoms and diet (usually using a diary over a few days/weeks) and continue to tweak dietary changes and optimise the diet until a person feels their symptoms are adequately managed in a way that can be sustained in the long-term,” says Georgina. 

Where can you find a gastro dietitian?

Gastro dietitians can work within gastroenterology clinics, public hospitals and in private practice. A GP or health professional may be able to refer you to one that meets your needs.