About Helen Gibbs Dietitian
Helen Gibbs – My Journey In Dietetics
Nau Mai, Haeri Mai, welcome to the place where we explore our relationship with Kai.
So why did I become a dietitian? I’m the youngest of four from a family with a rich history in health. When I was young, my mum qualified as a dietitian.
It was her work that first sparked my interest in food. She was one of the first dietitians to work with the National Heart Foundation. I was able to get involved in her work in health promotion.
When I finished secondary school, I worked in the Princess Margaret Hospital kitchen. Here, I was further exposed to dietitians and their work. This deepened my interest in food and nutrition.
I then took a scenic route to being a nutrition professional! After completing my Bachelor of Consumer and Applied Sciences in 1994, I completed a BSC (Hons) in food science. I then graduated in 1997 with a PG Diploma in Dietetics.
I moved to the UK and landed my first role as a dietitian. I had a range of patients, from outpatients to those in aged care. I then became involved in establishing Counterweight, one of the leading sources of weight management information. They were involved in the Direct trial, looking at the effectiveness of diabetes remission.
My initial return to New Zealand saw me living in Auckland, where I had various roles. These included working for the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa and starting my practice. I also became a mentor, supporting students and new graduates.
I returned to the UK to work as a community obesity specialist dietitian. I worked there for eight years, delivering two weight management programs and proving that a dietetic-led service was an important entry point to weight loss surgery lists.
I returned to New Zealand for the second time in 2014 and settled in Dunedin. Since then, I’ve become increasingly involved in various aspects of the profession, including speaking to the media and providing nutrition consultancy services. At the end of 2022, I was elected to the Dietitians NZ Ngā Pukenga Kai Ora o Aotearoa Council.
At the start of 2023, I decided to make Diet Consulting my full-time job. I run a successful clinic at McLeod Nutrition in Oamaru.
My services there include
- Body weight management, including post-weight loss surgery nutrition.
- Addressing eating distress and disordered eating.
- Advising on the best nutrition for seniors.
- Cardiovascular disease risk management
- Preventing, managing, and remission of Type 2 diabetes.
- Complex health management – when you have several conditions and have no idea what to eat.
Diet Consultation Locations
Appointments can be scheduled to take place at:
- For your convenience, you can also book an appointment to take place via Zoom