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The AMHS newsletter
January 2026
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Welcome to our first newsletter!
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2026 is all about bold action and real change. Our members and supporters are the driving force behind this society, shaping better metabolic health across Australasia. Together, we’re turning evidence into impact—stay with us for updates and opportunities to make a difference this year.
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Professor Karen Dwyer
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Karen is a nephrologist and metabolic health practitioner. She is the Director of Nephrology and Kidney Care Services at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Professor in the Department of Medicine at The University of Melbourne.
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As we settle into the rhythm of the new year, we find ourselves reflecting on a season defined by profound contrast. For many of us in Australia, the warmth of the Christmas and New Year period - a time of rest and summer celebration - was underscored by a heavy heart as we navigated the shock of the Bondi tragedy and the renewed anxiety of the summer bushfire season. In times of such collective challenge, our focus naturally shifts toward resilience and the essential need for clarity in how we care for ourselves and our communities.
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It is with this spirit of fortitude that we look toward the future of health, drawing inspiration from the latest USA Dietary Guidelines. These guidelines represent a gold standard in nutritional science, moving beyond simple calorie counting to focus on fresh, whole foods and nutrient-dense eating patterns that adapt to diverse lifestyles. By integrating these evidence-based frameworks, which emphasise the prevention of chronic disease through proactive, everyday choices, we are strengthening the mission and vision of AMHS. We are committed to ensuring every Australian has access to the robust nutritional foundations required to thrive, recover, and lead a healthy life, no matter the season.
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Our 2026 commitment
Throughout the coming year, under the leadership of our Scientific Committee, we will continue to deliver monthly Grand Rounds featuring world-renowned scientists and clinicians. We are also:
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- Preparing for our next Low Carb Foundations course, to be held mid-year in Melbourne.
- Engaging with Universities to support the integration of low-carb prescribing into the curriculum of medical schools.
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As a young, lean organisation, we are immensely grateful to those who support us through the donation of time, talent, or treasure. Together, we are making a tangible difference. With significant shifts in nutritional policy currently afoot in the USA, we are entering an incredibly exciting era for health in Australia and New Zealand. It is wonderful to be on this journey with you all.
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Donate to the Australasian Metabolic Health Society
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Support AMHS by donating today
Your donation directly supports metabolic health education, clinician training, and evidence-based resources across Australasia.
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$80 sponsors a student membership
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$150 helps train future health practitioners in metabolic care
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$1,500 supports training for 10 health practitioners
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$5,000 accelerates national education and advocacy efforts.
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because no life should be lost to preventable disease
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Training and upcoming events
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Low Carb Foundations, Melbourne - 1-day course
Hold the date!
Deepen your knowledge of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction with workshops and presentations from Australia's leading metabolic health practitioners.
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- Saturday, 25 July 2026
- Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Clinical School, Grattan Street, Parkville, Vic, 3050.
- For all health professionals and students
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Grand Rounds
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January 2026
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6:30 PM AEDT | 8:30 PM NZDT
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We are thrilled to welcome Prof. Catherine Crofts as our January AMHS Grand Round presenter.
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This will be a members' only presentation. Members are emailed directly with the meeting links each month.
We look forward to seeing you and hearing your questions and comments at the session.
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February 2026
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6:30 PM AEDT | 8:30 PM NZDT
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March 2026
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6:30 PM AEDT | 8:30 PM NZDT
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Mitochondrial dysfunction as the origin of cancer
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Professor Thomas Seyfried
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News
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Recently published article in The Medical Republic on the 2025-2030 US Dietary Guidelines.
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Real food is back: What the newly released USA Dietary Guidelines mean for Australians
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans mark a major reset in nutrition policy — with global relevance as Australia reviews its Dietary Guidelines.
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What’s changed:
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Emphasis on protein-rich, nutrient-dense whole foods
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Clear advice to reduce ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbs
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Formal recognition that lower-carbohydrate approaches can benefit chronic disease management
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Acceptance that one-size-fits-all dietary advice is inadequate for a metabolically unhealthy population
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These changes align policy with clinical and trial evidence, reflecting modern realities of metabolic health.
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The implications for Australia
With a comparable metabolic disease burden, Australia has a pivotal opportunity to prioritise metabolic health, support clinician flexibility, and embed evidence-based nutrition in public policy.
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The Australasian Metabolic Health Society (AMHS) remains committed to advancing health policy and contributing to Australian dietary guidelines that reflect current science and clinical practice.
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Lived Experience - Metabolic Health
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My health journey: Brendan Reid
The Fat Ginger Nerd, 10 years on: Before, after, and beyond.
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I was first introduced to dietitians and the healthy food pyramid as a 12-year-old in 1991, all of which had me trying to eat less. But following mainstream dietary guidelines only made matters worse, leaving me heavier and more hopeless.
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At school, PE classes involved activities like running, swimming or gymnastics, all of which had me trying to move more. But the emotional toll of ridicule and shame ran deep. I wasn’t just overweight; I was burdened with the belief that I was broken, lazy, or weak.
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For the first 37 years of my life, I was convinced that I was just going to be fat forever, and there was nothing that I or anybody else could ever do about it.
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What finally changed everything for me was understanding and applying the science of carbohydrate restriction. I set myself three rules:
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- Eat only when hungry, don’t when I’m not
- Keep carbs as low as possible without sacrificing variety
- Track progress through regular weighing.
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This wasn’t about willpower: it was about biology. Lowering carbohydrate intake reduced my insulin levels, helping my body switch from fat storage to fat burning. For the first time I could remember, I wasn’t fighting constant hunger. The results were undeniable: within just over a year, I had shed well over a third of my body weight and, more importantly, regained control of my health and my future.
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Member spotlight
"I continue to be a member of AMHS to build Australia’s
metabolic health by prescribing food, not drugs. Let food be your medicine, else medicine becomes your food."
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Dr Eugene Khoo, BComm, BSc (Chiro), BSc (Hon 1), BChiro, Grad Dip Div, MBBS, Cert Clin Occ Med
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Join the Australasian Metabolic Health Society
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Not yet a member? Join today to access all member benefits.
Already a member? Share this newsletter and invite colleagues to join AMHS.
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Join the AMHS Members Hub on Facebook
An exclusive space for AMHS members to connect, share insights, discuss cases, and stay informed on research, events, and opportunities in metabolic health.
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Together, we’re strengthening metabolic health across Australasia.
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