Seeing a women’s health dietitian can empower you with personalised advice to improve energy, manage symptoms, and support hormonal balance. Here are five key reasons why booking an appointment with a women’s health dietitian can be a game-changer for you.
1. Boost Low Energy Levels
Feeling constantly fatigued or struggling with low energy can sometimes be linked to iron deficiency, which is especially common among women due to menstruation, pregnancy, or other factors. Iron deficiency is a common nutritional concern among Australian women, particularly those of reproductive age.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics and health surveys report that iron deficiency affects approximately 10-20% of women aged 15 to 50 years. This prevalence is higher among pregnant women, with estimates indicating that up to 30% of pregnant women in Australia experience iron deficiency due to increased iron requirements during pregnancy.
A women’s health dietitian can assess your dietary intake, recommend iron-rich foods, and guide you on enhancing iron absorption through complementary nutrients like vitamin C. Additionally they can make suggestions around the best type of iron supplement for you!
Managing low iron through nutrition can help restore your energy levels naturally and improve concentration and mood. A women’s health dietitian can help explore other reasons your energy levels may be low and provide practical suggestions whether its poor sleep, chronic stress, a nutrient deficiency or your diet lacking in a particular group of foods.
2. Support for Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 9 women in Australia and is characterised by the growth of tissue similar to the uterine lining outside the uterus. This can cause chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, infertility and digestive issues, significantly impacting quality of life. Nutrition plays a critical role in managing endometriosis symptoms by helping to reduce inflammation and support overall health.
A women’s health dietitian can help identify foods that may trigger inflammation or worsen symptoms, such as highly processed foods, excessive red meat, and certain types of fats. They often recommend an anti-inflammatory eating pattern rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, flaxseeds), colourful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based proteins.
Additionally, optimising gut health through adequate fibre intake and probiotics can support immune function and reduce symptom severity. A women’s health dietitian can also manage IBS symptoms and walk you through a low FODMAP diet.
Personalised dietary advice also focuses on avoiding nutritional deficiencies that may exacerbate fatigue and pain, such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. Working alongside your medical team, a dietitian can support your treatment plan to enhance symptom management and improve your day-to-day wellbeing
3. Support for PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting up to 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in Australia. Key features include irregular menstrual cycles, insulin resistance, weight gain, acne, and excessive hair growth. While PCOS is complex and has no cure, tailored nutrition can significantly improve symptoms and reduce long-term health risks like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Women’s health dietitians develop individualised plans that focus on improving insulin sensitivity and hormone regulation through balanced meals with low glycaemic index carbohydrates, sufficient protein, and healthy fats. Emphasising wholefoods and minimising refined sugars and processed foods can stabilise blood glucose and reduce androgen levels, which are often elevated in PCOS. They can also provide tailored supplement plans to help manage symptoms.
Exercise advice, combined with nutrition, further supports weight management and metabolic health. Moreover, dietitians help address common micronutrient deficiencies seen in PCOS, such as vitamin D and magnesium, which can impact ovulation and mood. By working collaboratively with you and your healthcare providers, a dietitian offers comprehensive support to help manage PCOS effectively and improve overall quality of life.
4. Navigate Perimenopause and Menopause
Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman’s life, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55 in Australia. This phase involves a natural decline in oestrogen levels, which impacts metabolism, bone density, cardiovascular health, and body composition. Around 1.3 million Australian women are currently experiencing menopause or perimenopause, highlighting how common and impactful this life stage is.
The reduction in oestrogen during menopause can accelerate bone loss, increasing the risk of osteoporosis; approximately 1 in 3 Australian women over 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. A women’s health dietitian can provide tailored nutritional guidance to help maintain bone health through adequate calcium and vitamin D intake and promote muscle mass maintenance with sufficient protein. Dietitians also recommend foods rich in phytoestrogens (such as soy products) which may ease menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats.
Furthermore, menopause can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among Australian women. Nutrition strategies focused on heart health—such as increasing unsaturated fats, fibre, and antioxidants—can support long-term wellbeing. Dietitians ensure these recommendations are personalised, practical, and culturally appropriate to facilitate successful management of menopausal symptoms and improve quality of life.
Weight gain is a common concern at menopause, with studies showing women often gain 0.5 to 1 kg per year during this transition, largely due to hormonal changes, reduced metabolic rate, and changes in physical activity levels. A women’s health dietitian is also able to provide tailored nutrition strategies to help support mental health and brain fog as well as body composition changes.
5. Achieving Sustainable Weight Management
In Australia, overweight and obesity are significant health concerns affecting a large proportion of adult women. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), over 67% of Australian women aged 18 years and older are classified as overweight or obese.
This prevalence increases with age, with more than 75% of women aged 45-64 years falling into these categories. Excess weight is linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and musculoskeletal issues, which can profoundly impact quality of life and longevity.
A women’s health dietitian specialises in providing evidence-based, personalised nutrition advice to support healthy weight management tailored to the unique physiological and lifestyle factors women face. Practical strategies often include developing balanced meal plans that prioritise wholefoods, adequate protein intake to preserve lean muscle mass, and low glycaemic index carbohydrates to regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.
Additionally, dietitians help establish consistent eating patterns and mindful eating techniques to reduce emotional or stress-related eating. Beyond diet, they consider life stages such as pregnancy, menopause, or hormonal conditions like PCOS, which may affect metabolism and weight.
By addressing these factors holistically and working collaboratively with women, a dietitian empowers sustainable lifestyle changes that promote not only weight management but also overall health and wellbeing. Additionally for those on weight loss medications, a dietitian can help provide tailored nutrition advice, help manage side effects such as nausea and constipation, screen for and treat deficiencies, recommend supplements and provide practical strategies to manage emotional eating.
Ready to take control of your health? Contact ORS this Women’s Health Week. Start your journey with a women’s health dietitian and begin feeling your best.
