Private Dietitian Service
Private Dietician Service
Welcome to our Private Dietitian Service at Essex Private Doctors. We are delighted to introduce our newest team member, Florence Rowe, a highly qualified, evidence‐based dietitian dedicated to transforming patients’ health through personalised nutrition and holistic care.
A Personalised Approach to Nutrition and Well-being
Diet plays a fundamental role in health, affecting everything from metabolism and digestion to mental well-being and chronic disease management. A science-based, personalised approach to nutrition can help individuals optimise their health, manage medical conditions, and create long-term sustainable habits.
A structured framework is used to develop a personalised and sustainable nutrition plan, addressing multiple aspects of health, including body composition, metabolic markers, dietary habits, lifestyle factors, and medical history.
Advanced Body Composition Analysis
A crucial first step in any dietary assessment is evaluating body composition rather than just weight.
Weight alone does not provide a full picture of health, which is why body composition analysis is used to assess:
This detailed insight allows for more precise and effective nutrition plans, ensuring that dietary recommendations support optimal health and metabolism.
Body composition analysis can be booked separately.
If needed, blood tests provide essential information about nutrient deficiencies, metabolic health, and inflammation levels. These tests help to:
Lifestyle, Eating Habits, and Long-Term Dietary Change
Beyond clinical assessments, nutrition plans are built around a full understanding of lifestyle and dietary habits, including:
Rather than providing one-size-fits-all meal plans, this approach supports long-term lifestyle adjustments that work for each individual.
Weight Management and Metabolic Health
Many individuals find weight management increasingly challenging as they age due to changes in metabolism, muscle mass, and hormone levels. Nutritional strategies focus on preserving lean muscle mass, balancing blood sugar, and supporting metabolic function, preventing common pitfalls such as muscle loss and metabolic slowdown.
For those using weight-loss medications such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, nutrition plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable results. A common mistake is rapid weight loss that disproportionately reduces muscle mass instead of fat, which can lead to slower metabolism and weight regain over time. Effective dietary support ensures:
Weight Management and Metabolic Health
Many individuals find weight management increasingly challenging as they age due to changes in metabolism, muscle mass, and hormone levels. Nutritional strategies focus on preserving lean muscle mass, balancing blood sugar, and supporting metabolic function, preventing common pitfalls such as muscle loss and metabolic slowdown.
For those using weight-loss medications such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, nutrition plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable results. A common mistake is rapid weight loss that disproportionately reduces muscle mass instead of fat, which can lead to slower metabolism and weight regain over time. Effective dietary support ensures:
Gut Health, Bloating, and Digestive Disorders
Many people struggle with bloating, constipation, and digestive discomfort, particularly during menopause or times of hormonal change. The gut microbiome plays a significant role in digestion, inflammation, and even mental health, making it an essential focus of dietary interventions. Nutritional strategies help to:
I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and have always struggled with my weight. I wanted to conceive and was concerned that the PCOS might affect this. I came to see Florence before we started trying for a baby to see if I could optimise my weight and whether there was anything else that I could do to help increase my fertility. She was wonderful and so supportive throughout the process. We now have a little baby girl and I’m so pleased that I came to Florence.
I came to see one of the doctors at Essex Private Doctors about my baby who kept crying and having bloating and had eczema that wouldn’t get better. The doctor thought that the baby had cows’ milk protein intolerance.
I really didn’t want to stop breastfeeding, so the doctor suggested that I came to see the dietitian at the clinic, Florence.
Florence was wonderful and supported me through a really difficult time. She helped me to adjust my diet to avoid cows’ milk and advised me what supplements to take. I continued breast feeding and once I had made these changes, my baby’s symptoms all improved. ‘m so grateful to her for helping me through this difficult time.
I came to see a doctor at Essex Private Doctors for a routine health check when I turned 50. I was surprised when I came back to see the doctor for my results that they explained I had that my blood sugars were in the pre-diabetic range. They spoke to me about the risk of developing diabetes and encouraged me to go to see Florence.
I’d never considered seeing a dietitian before and to be honest, I didn’t think I ate that badly, but when we actually looked at my diet, there were a number of things I was eating which weren’t helping me. I’ve worked with Florence now for six months and have completely reversed my pre-diabetes and my blood sugar levels are now in the normal range. I also have a lot more energy too. I’m planning to keep having annual health checks at Essex Private Doctors just to keep on top of things and check in with Florence now and then as well.
I had tried every diet I could find but I was the biggest I’d ever been. I was even finding it difficult to move around. I saw at Essex Private Doctors and they were so kind to me. I felt ashamed by how I looked, but they told me that it wasn’t my fault – that’s the first time that I felt truly understood and the first time I’d really felt comfortable discussing how my weight was affecting me. I felt really supported by the doctor and we decided to start weight loss injections. They explained to me that it’s very important to have dietitian support whilst doing this. I was a bit worried about starting the injections because my friend had been buying them online and they had felt tired all the time and nauseated. However, the doctor explained that with dietary support and careful monitoring it was likely that we wouldn’t have this problem.
I came to see Florence and she helped me to understand how to eat and we also discussed why I eat and the habits that had developed which hadn’t helped me. My friend said she felt so sick she couldn’t eat but I didn’t get this at all, I think it is because the doctor made very small dose adjustments. Although it took me longer to lose the weight than my friend did, I felt well during this time and didn’t experience the side effects that they had.
Florence monitored my body composition to keep an eye on the fat and muscle changes. I found her very supportive throughout this process.
I’ve had IBS ever since I was a teenager and have tried various things to improve it, including medications which my doctor had prescribed for me, but I didn’t want to continue relying on medications to help. Florence helped me change my diet and I started some supplements which helped me too. She’s made a real difference to my symptoms and it’s quite rare that I need to take the medication now.
I’ve struggled with my weight for years and tried all sorts of diets in the past. I found that the diets did sometimes help me lose weight, but they were very difficult to keep doing for longer than a couple of months and as soon as I stopped them, the weight would just bounce back on and sometimes I’d put on even more than I’d managed to lose. I was feeling really down about my weight. I was worried about booking an appointment with a dietician because I was concerned that they might be judgemental and blame me for my weight. I was also quite confused because there are so many different diets out on the internet that it makes it difficult to know where to start.
What I liked about coming to see Florence is that she gave me very personalised advice. She was not at all judgemental and I felt very at ease. I have worked with her for three months now and can honestly say that I’ve never felt better in terms of energy. My weight is coming off as well – of course, it always takes longer than you’d like, but this is the first time I’ve managed to steadily lose weight and also keep the momentum up. I don’t even feel like I’m on a diet because what Florence has encouraged me to do have been small changes over time, which feel much easier to continue with, rather than making drastic changes. Florence also helped me have the confidence to start exercising. In the past, I felt embarrassed to exercise in public, but with her support I overcame this. I’m so glad that I came to see Florence. Thank you x
How Diet Affects Stress and Mental Health
The relationship between diet and stress is closely linked through the gut-brain axis. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating mood, anxiety, and stress levels by influencing the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. Poor diet choices—such as high-sugar, processed foods—can increase inflammation, disrupt gut bacteria, and lead to higher cortisol levels, exacerbating stress.
By making targeted dietary changes, it’s possible to improve mood, enhance cognitive function, reduce anxiety symptoms, and increase resilience to stress.
Histamine Intolerance and Dietetic Support
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body struggles to break down histamine, leading to symptoms such as headaches, skin flushing, digestive discomfort, and fatigue. The enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) is responsible for breaking down dietary histamine, but factors such as gut health issues, hormonal imbalances, and chronic inflammation can reduce its effectiveness.
Nutritional strategies for managing histamine intolerance include:
Improving gut health and addressing nutrient deficiencies can significantly reduce symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Histamine Intolerance and Dietetic Support
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body struggles to break down histamine, leading to symptoms such as headaches, skin flushing, digestive discomfort, and fatigue. The enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) is responsible for breaking down dietary histamine, but factors such as gut health issues, hormonal imbalances, and chronic inflammation can reduce its effectiveness.
Nutritional strategies for managing histamine intolerance include:
Improving gut health and addressing nutrient deficiencies can significantly reduce symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Menopause and Nutrition
For women in menopause and in perimenopause, the loss of oestrogen can lead to various metabolic and hormonal challenges, including weight gain, increased risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, fatigue, and mood changes. Managing these symptoms through diet can have a transformational impact on long-term health and quality of life.
PCOS and Diet
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal condition that affects metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and reproductive health. Women with PCOS often struggle with irregular periods, weight gain, acne, excess hair growth, and difficulty losing weight. Dietetic support can have a significant impact on symptom management of PCOS through its effect on hormonal and blood sugar regulation.
What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?
Many people seeking dietary advice are unaware of the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist.
A dietitian is a highly qualified healthcare professional who has undergone extensive medical training and is legally regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK. They hold degrees in dietetics or related sciences, complete clinical placements, and are trained to work with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, metabolic disorders, gut health issues, and food intolerances.
A nutritionist, on the other hand, is not legally regulated. The term “nutritionist” is not protected, meaning that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of their level of training. Many nutritionists lack clinical expertise and medical training, and some rely on pseudoscientific approaches that are not backed by evidence.
By choosing to see Florence Rowe, our registered dietitian, you can be assured that they are receiving the highest standard of dietary care, backed by science, clinical experience, and professional regulation.
What to Expect from a Dietetic Consultation
Your programme will include:
Private Dietitian Essex
Florence Rowe is our expert dietitian.
Florence brings a wealth of experience, and a science-based, personalised nutrition plan can have a profound impact on your health, weight, metabolism, mental well-being, and management of any long-term conditions you may have. Through a structured approach that includes body composition analysis, clinical assessments, and lifestyle considerations, you can achieve lasting health improvements.
Investing in proper nutrition is an investment in long-term well-being. Book your dietetic appointment with Florence Rowe today.
