Nutrition for Every Body
Jul 2026 ･ 1hr watch
In oncology, what we see on the surface doesn’t always tell the full story. Join Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian Lauren Atkins for an insightful webinar that moves beyond the "visible" signs of malnutrition to explore the nutritional complexities of less-serviced cancer types. We delve into the specific challenges faced by patients undergoing treatment for cancers that are not traditionally considered high nutritional risk (e.g. breast, prostate, gynaecological), and discuss challenges such as malabsorption, altered nutritional requirements, body composition, body image and food relationship changes.
Lauren explores the importance of "every body" nutrition, challenging the weight-centric bias that often leaves patients with higher BMIs at risk of sarcopenia, nutritional and functional decline, and inadequate support. By understanding the nutritional physiology behind the scenes of cancer treatment, nurses will be better equipped to identify and advocate for patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks of standard care. Practical strategies for fostering a positive relationship with food and one’s body during and after treatment are also discussed.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the unique nutritional risks and malabsorption challenges associated with prostate and gynaecological radiation therapy.
- Critique the limitations of weight- and BMI-based screening and understand the clinical significance of sarcopenic obesity in oncology populations.
- Describe how to apply a HAES-aligned, non-diet approach to support patients experiencing body composition and body image changes during breast cancer treatment.
- Recognise the "silent" markers of malnutrition, such as inflammatory shifts, nutritional inadequacies and muscle loss, to facilitate earlier intervention and referral.
SPEAKER BIO
Lauren Atkins – Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian
Lauren Atkins is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Senior Oncology Dietitian and Co-founder and Director of her business OnCore Nutrition. She has extensive experience in nutrition care, having worked at Peter Mac, The Royal Children’s Hospital and as team leader at Epworth Health. She is credentialed in paediatrics, eating disorders, FODMAPs and IBS and is passionate about the management of gastrointestinal disorders, particularly those related to cancer treatment, surgery, IBS and functional gut disorders.
Lauren is a member of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Nutrition Group Executive Committee and contributes to national cancer care research and frameworks. She provides education, research and training to Deakin University and University of Melbourne. Her team of dietitians at OnCore Nutrition have been recognised by Dietitians Australia with a Quality in Primary Care award in 2021 and 2023.
For healthcare professionals only. This information is for educational purposes only, please use your own clinical judgement when assessing individual patients.
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