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because no life should be lost to preventable disease.
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A note from AMHS CEO
Claire McDonnell
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Claire McDonnell Liu is Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Metabolic Health Society (AMHS), leading strategy, education, and advocacy to advance metabolic health and evidence-based nutritional therapies across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific.
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As we continue to advance our mission at AMHS, I'm proud of the momentum building across every area of our work. At the centre is a clear and urgent purpose: to prevent or reverse metabolic disease in one million people, because no life should be lost to preventable disease.
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At AMHS, we are unapologetically ambitious. Our strong leadership team and partnerships continue to strengthen our reach and solidify our two core pillars:
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- World class training for health professionals to prevent and reverse disease, not simply manage symptoms. Our training programs remain one of our greatest strengths, and new courses co-developed with leading health industry bodies are underway. This ensures our education is rigorous, practical and aligned with the future of clinical care.
- Trusted, authoritative metabolic health resources. We are establishing AMHS as the destination for credible metabolic health knowledge, serving as the trusted home for evidence, clinical guidance and practical tools that health professionals and the community can rely on.
This work is strengthened by our expanded Scientific Committee, which brings together respected leaders from healthcare, research and public health. They are shaping national discussions, developing strong position statements, improving policy submissions, and holding public bodies to account when scientific standards fall short.
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Engagement in our Grand Rounds continues to grow, with national and international speakers sharing the latest evidence, clinical insights and frontline tools. The message from our community is clear: AMHS Grand Rounds are now among the most valuable metabolic health education forums available.
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Our volunteers remain at the heart of AMHS. Their energy and expertise elevate every program and initiative. AMHS is stronger for their contribution.
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Thank you for your continued commitment to the AMHS mission. Together, we are building a healthier future, one practitioner, one patient and one community at a time.
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Training and upcoming events
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Low Carb Foundations, Melbourne - 1-day course
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
To see course information and book your spot:
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Grand Rounds
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March 2026
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We are thrilled to announce Professor Thomas Seyfried as our March Grand Round presenter.
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This session will be open to all. Share widely and encourage colleagues to join the AMHS mailing list to receive the meeting link.
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April 2026
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"Drug Interactions in Daily Practice”
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Consultant Pharmacist, Health Researcher, Strategist & Podcaster
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Join AMHS to take part in monthly Grand Rounds meetings.
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At 81 years old, Chris was managing an impressive list of serious conditions including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and obesity. After starting a low-carb diet under the care of his doctor, the results were nothing short of remarkable.
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Within just five months, Chris lost 25kg and 13cm from his waist. Most strikingly, he was off all insulin within 17 days, a medication he had been relying on daily. His blood markers improved across the board:
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Now 17 months in, Chris reflects honestly on the challenges of staying the course — and offers a candid warning to anyone thinking of trying: "If you are only half-hearted about it, don't bother." His story is a powerful reminder of what commitment to dietary change can achieve at any age.
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News
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Miami, Metabolism and a Few Reality Checks
I recently spent three days in Boca Raton in Florida attending the Low Carb USA meeting and its associated Scientific and Metabolic Health Research Academy sessions. Miami delivered sunshine in abundance, although I think Australia still wins comfortably on its beaches. Other early cultural observations included nonstop television advertisements for prescription drugs and an Uber app that briefly decided I no longer existed. It seems, metabolic flexibility is easier than app reliability.
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Day 1 focused heavily on cardiovascular risk and disease mechanisms. Dr Arthur Agatston, the clinician behind the Agatston calcium score, spoke about emerging technology in plaque dating that may significantly change how we interpret coronary calcium scores. The emphasis was shifting away from static numbers toward understanding plaque dating and timing. Eric Westman presented on treating heart failure with a ketogenic diet, grounded in practical, clinical experience. Philip Ovadia discussed cardiovascular management within a keto-based practice and how conventional risk models often fail metabolically unhealthy patients. Robert Cywes explored testing, tracking and modifying inflammation in heart disease, reinforcing that inflammation is not a side issue, but the central driver.
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Day 2 moved from theory to translation. Tro Kalayjian spoke about converting plaque reversal evidence into real world clinical results, which sparked robust debate about whether calcified plaque can truly be reversed and how this uncertainty should be communicated when managing patient expectations. Dave Feldman previewed his upcoming documentary The Cholesterol Code, challenging mainstream lipid narratives and highlighting cholesterol variability in low carbohydrate states. David Diamond examined the metabolic conditions under which LDL cholesterol becomes harmful, noting LDL’s role in immune defence and why higher LDL is often associated with lower all-cause mortality. He also highlighted prothrombin polymorphisms and fibrinogen levels as under recognised drivers of acute coronary events.
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Day 3 concluded with Annette Bosworth, aka Dr Boz, discussing her use of low dose GLP 1 therapy alongside low carbohydrate nutrition and intermittent fasting to overcome refractory insulin resistance.
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A special mention must go to Doug and Pam Reynolds, who did an extraordinary job organising a scientifically rigorous, clinically relevant and genuinely enjoyable event. Kudos to both of them. The next conference is already on the calendar: 13 to 16 August 2026, the Symposium for Metabolic Health at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside Hotel.
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The consistent message across the meeting was clear: cardiometabolic health is about context, inflammation and metabolic function, not isolated numbers. That said, my greatest enemy remains jet lag.
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By Dr. Sanjeev Balakrishnan
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Dr. Balakrishnan MBBS, MMed, FRACGP. GP in Western Australia and AMHS Scientific Committee Member
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Added Sugars Nutrition Labelling
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AMHS letter addressing added sugar labelling.
On 6 February 2026, the AMHS formally write to Australian and New Zealand Health Ministers urging them to keep FSANZ Proposal P1058 open at the upcoming Food Ministers’ Meeting on behalf of AMHS.
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This proposal would introduce mandatory added sugar labelling on packaged foods, a simple, evidence-based reform already implemented in the United States in 2016.
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Australia is facing an unprecedented metabolic health crisis.
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· Over two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese
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· 1.3 million Australians live with type 2 diabetes
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· Up to 39% of adults now have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
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· Alarmingly, fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes are increasingly affecting children
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As clinicians managing metabolic disease daily, we see firsthand the consequences of excessive added sugar intake. Unlike naturally occurring sugars in whole foods, added sugars provide concentrated energy with minimal nutritional value and are strongly associated with:
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· Visceral fat deposition
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The Problem with Current Labelling
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Current nutrition panels list only “total sugars,” failing to distinguish between intrinsic sugars (such as those naturally present in fruit and dairy) and added sugars in processed foods.
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This makes it nearly impossible to make informed choices for:
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· Parents trying to protect their children’s health
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· Patients managing diabetes or fatty liver disease
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· Consumers attempting to follow dietary guidelines
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Discontinuing Proposal P1058 would represent a missed opportunity for meaningful preventive health reform. Transparent added sugar labelling is:
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· Internationally implemented
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· Supported by health professionals
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· A practical step toward improving metabolic health outcomes
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We strongly urge Food Ministers to keep P1058 open and advance added sugar labelling as a public health priority.
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Member spotlight
“Before joining AMHS, I felt isolated from colleagues who followed conventional guidelines. Now I collaborate with health professionals that share the same philosophy… my clients report better energy and reduced reliance on medication.”
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Cassidy Dodson, Accredited Practicing Dietitian
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Your donation
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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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$350 trains a health practitioner in disease prevention
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$1,500 supports 6 medical students training
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$5,000 provides education and resources for rural clinics
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because no life should be lost to preventable disease
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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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