The Role of a Dietitian in Your Obesity Treatment Journey

This information is general in nature and does not replace personalised professional advice. Please contact your healthcare team if you have any questions or concerns.

Author: Madison Bruhn, Accredited Practising Dietitian 

Peer reviewed by: Merril Bohn, Accredited Practising Dietitian; Fiona Sammut, Accredited Practising Dietitian; Andrea Jasper, Accredited Practising Dietitian

Last reviewed: March 2026

Obesity is caused by many things that are often outside your control. These include your genes, hormones, medications, mental health, trauma, where you live, your culture and how easy it is to access healthcare. This is why obesity is treated as a long-term health condition that needs professional, compassionate support [1,2]. 

Dietitian vs Nutritionist: What’s the difference?

In Australia, the title Nutritionist is not regulated, which means anyone can use it, regardless of their training. Dietitians, however, are university-qualified health professionals who provide safe, evidence-based nutrition care, including support for medical and chronic health conditions [2,3]. 

A Dietitian is not someone who simply tells you what to eat. They work with you to support your health, your body and your relationship with food. They are an important part of your healthcare team throughout every stage of obesity treatment [2,3]. 

An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is a Dietitian who is credentialled through Dietitians Australia and strict national standards for training and ongoing professional development. APDs are also recognised by Medicare, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and private health insurers for rebates [3-6]. 

Your first appointments

Your first few sessions are about getting to know you as a whole person. Your Dietitian wants to understand what your life is really like, so your care plan fits into your day-to-day routine and feels realistic [4]. They will take the time to talk with you about:

• Your medical history, medications and nutrition related blood test results (and what they actually mean) [3-6].

• Your past experiences with weight, dieting and weight stigma [4].

• Your relationship with food, hunger and emotions [4,6].

• How food and eating fits into your culture, family life, routines and financial constraints [6].

• Your goals and what matters most to you [5,6].

• Things that make it difficult for you to achieve your goals (eg. tiredness, pain, stress, lack of time) [1,6].

What do they measure?

Your Dietitian looks at so much more than just your weight. They care about how your health is changing and how you are feeling in your everyday life. Even if the number on the scale stays the same, your health can still be improving [4,8]. They may keep track of things like:

• Blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure [2].

• Your energy, digestion and sleep [7,8].

• Your strength and how you manage everyday tasks [7,8].

• How hungry or full you feel and your eating patterns [4,6].

• Your confidence and your relationship with food [7].

• Skills that help with planning and food preparation.

• Your Dietitian may also ask for your weight from time to time. This helps them to make sure you are not losing weight too fast (which can be unhealthy) and helps them work out how much energy, protein and fluid your body needs [7]. 

Helping you change habits

Dietitians are trained to help people change their habits [6]. They may work with other health professionals (eg. a Psychologist) to help you:

• Notice when emotions affect your eating [9]. 

• Manage hunger, cravings and stress [9].

• Build simple and consistent eating routines [8]. 

• Learn skills to help understand what is in the food you eat (eg. reading food labels, identifying quality protein sources), help with meal planning and grocery shopping [6].

• Turn short-term changes into long-term habits [6,8].

Why Dietitian support is important 

Weight-loss medications and obesity surgery (also known as metabolic and bariatric surgery) reduce appetite, slow/change digestion processes and change your natural hunger signals [8]. Without the right support, people may not eat enough, lose muscle or miss out on important vitamins and minerals [10]. A Dietitian helps keep your body strong and healthy throughout treatment.

When taking obesity management medications , your Dietitian will help you:

• Eat enough protein to protect your muscles and fibre to prevent constipation [8].

• Manage possible side effects like nausea, reflux, bowel changes and tiredness [8] .

• Prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies when your food intake is reduced [8].

• Support regular eating, even if you do not feel hungry [8].

• Adjust your eating safely as your medication doses change [4,8].

Before and after obesity surgery, your Dietitian will:

• Help get your body ready for surgery so your risk of complications is lower [4]. 

• Guide you through recovery by eating texture-modified foods while still getting enough nutrition [8]. 

• Prevent and manage side effects like vomiting, nausea, stomach or bowel issues and dehydration [4,8].

• Help you choose the right vitamins and minerals to take for life [4,11]. 

• Watch for low iron, vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D [4,10].

• Help you adjust to the ‘new normal’ ways of eating and drinking that helps prevent discomforts, manage suitable portions, keep appetite stable, and keep good nutrition on track. 

Whether you are using medication or having bariatric surgery, your dietitian will help you develop a healthy relationship with food, focusing on balance, flexibility and long-term wellbeing rather than strict rules or restriction.

What can happen without Dietitian support

When obesity treatment is not properly supported, people may experience:

• Excessive muscle loss instead of fat loss [12,13]. 

• Extreme tiredness and weakness which can impact your daily life [13].

• Hair thinning and weak nails, skin problems [13].

• Gut problems like constipation, diarrhoea, reflux or dumping syndrome [11,12].

• Low vitamin or mineral levels that can affect mood, immunity, nerves and bones [4,10-12].

• Weight re-gain after treatment that is more than expected [4].

• Excessive weight loss or too fast rate of weight loss that can lead to unpleasant loose skin issues and or ‘gaunt’ physical appearance [14,15].

These issues can often be prevented with the right care. Your Dietitian works closely with your GP, surgeon and other health professionals to make sure your care is safe and coordinated [2]. 

How much does a Dietitian cost?

In Australia, private Dietitian appointments usually cost between $120-$220. First visits are longer (about 45-60 minutes) and follow-up visits are shorter (around 20-40 minutes) [5]. You may be able to get help with costs through:

• Private Health Insurance 

  • Many health insurance funds may cover part of the cost of seeing a Dietitian if you have the required extras cover. 

  • Check with your health fund to find out how much your Dietitian rebate is. You will then just pay the gap (ie the difference between the cost of appointment minus the rebate amount).

  • You do not need a GP referral to claim through private health insurance as long as your Dietitian is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian with a registered provider number. Some clinics may be able to process claims for you, others will provide a receipt so you can submit a claim directly to your insurer. 

• Medicare – GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP)

  • If you have a long-term health condition (eg. diabetes, heart disease, PCOS or clinical obesity), your GP can set up a GPCCMP. This care plan provides a rebate for up to 5 subsidised allied health visits per calendar year.

  • Currently the Medicare rebates around $60 per Dietitian visit, so there may still be a small gap depending on your dietitian fee.

  • If you do not have a current GPCCMP or you have already used all of your 5 visits seeing other allied health professionals (eg Physiotherapist, Podiatrist), you will not be able to claim a Medicare rebate.

• Medicare – Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDTP)

  • If you have a diagnosed eating disorder, your GP can set up an EDTP. This care plan provides a rebate for up to 20 subsidised Dietitian visits over a 12-month period.

  • Currently, Medicare rebates around $60 per session, so there may still be a small gap depending on your providers fees. 

For more information about care plans, please visit the Services Australia website.

• Bulk Billing

  • Some community health services and public hospital outpatient clinics offer bulk-billed (free) or low-cost Dietitian appointments, especially for people with concession cards or certain medical conditions.

  • Some private clinics may offer bulk billed Dietitian services or discounted rates for concession card holders under specific circumstances however this can vary greatly depending on the clinic policies.

  • Your GP or local community health centre can help you find out what public services are available in your area that do not attract out of pocket fees.

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

  • If you have an NDIS package that includes funding for private Dietetic services, some or all of the cost may be covered through your fund, depending on your package. 

  • Your support coordinator or plan manager can help you check if this is possible.

How to find a Dietitian 

Finding the right Dietitian is not just about choosing the closest clinic. It is about finding someone who listens, understands your situation and supports you without judgment [2,4]. 

Ways to find a Dietitian in Australia:

• Ask your GP

  • They can refer you to a local Dietitian and organise a GPCCMP if you are eligible.

• Use the Dietitians Australia Find a Dietitian Portal

  • Search by location or telehealth availability.

  • Filter for areas of experience such as obesity management, bariatric surgery, weight-loss medications or diabetes.

  • All dietitians listed on this website are APDs. You can also verify your dietitian’s APD status via the Dietitians Australia online register

• Use the Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS) Find A Dietitian Tool

  • Search by location.

  • This lists Dietitians who specialise in obesity care, metabolic health and bariatric surgery. 

References

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2022) Overweight and obesity. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight-and-obesity/causes

2. Boaventura, B. and Stanford, F.C (2025) ‘Dietitians' role in obesity care: insights from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition,14(1), pp. 159-162. https://doi.org/10.21037/hbsn-2024-672

3. Better Health Channel (2022) Dietitians. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/dietitians

4. Dietitians Australia (2023) Weight loss surgery role statement. https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/working-dietetics/standards-and-scope/role-statements/weight-loss-surgery-role-statement

5. Dietitians Australia (2026) Seeing a dietitian in Australia: What to expect. https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/seeing-dietitian/what-expect

6. Healthdirect (2024) Dietitians. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dietitians

7. Wadden, T.A. Tronieri, J.S. and Butryn, M.L (2020) Lifestyle modification approaches for the treatment of obesity in adults’, American Psychologist, 75(2), pp. 235-251. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000517

8. Contreras, F. Al-Najim, W. and le Roux, C.W (2024) ‘Health Benefits Beyond the Scale: The Role of Diet and Nutrition During Weight Loss Programmes,’ Nutrients, 16(21), 3585. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213585

9. Dakanalis, A. et al. (2023) ‘The Association of Emotional Eating with Overweight/Obesity, Depression, Anxiety/Stress, and Dietary Patterns: A Review of the Current Clinical Evidence’, Nutrients, 15(5), 1173. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051173

10. Wolfe, B.M. Kvach, E. and Eckel, R. H (2016) ‘Treatment of Obesity: Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery’, Circulation Research, 118(11), pp. 1844-1855. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.116.307591

11. Burjonrappa, S. and Grover, K (2025) ‘Bariatric Surgery Complications’, StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK615299/

12. Moize, V. Laferrère, B. and Shapses, S (2024) ‘Nutritional Challenges and Treatment After Bariatric Surgery’, Annual Review of Nutrition, 44(1), pp. 289-312. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-061121-101547

13. Dietitians Australia (2025) Diet and nutrition health advice: Malnutrition. https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/health-advice/malnutrition

14. WebMD (2024) Loose skin after weight loss. https://www.webmd.com/obesity/loose-skin-after-weight-loss

15. Yetman, D (2020) What Causes a Gaunt Face, and How Can It Be Treated? https://www.healthline.com/health/gaunt-face?