Kylie Russell Dietitian

Kylie Russell is a New Zealand Registered Dietitian (NZRD) prescriber with over 15 years of clinical experience. She specialises in gastrointestinal health, weight management, surgical nutrition & complex medical conditions

As a prescriber, Kylie can authorise subsidised vitamins, minerals, pancreatic enzymes & special medical foods listed in the PHARMAC Schedule. She has a Master of Health Science (MHSc) with First-Class Honours, completed through the Department of Surgery at Auckland City Hospital & The University of Auckland. She remains actively involved in research, academic publishing & guest lecturing at Massey University & The University of Auckland

Kylie is also an ACC Sensitive Claims Provider, offering nutritional support for individuals recovering from trauma

Kylie provides secure online consultations across New Zealand, specializing in:
Gastrointestinal & Surgical Nutrition

• Acute surgical nutrition support for upper gastrointestinal (GI), hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) & colorectal surgery
• Chronic GI conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) & Crohns disease
• Low-FODMAP diets for IBS and gluten-free diets for Coeliac disease

Weight Loss & Obesity Management

Kylie supports clients with medical, non-medical & surgical weight loss solutions through rfynd Weight Loss. Her expertise includes:

• Weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) nutrition support
• Weight loss medications & ongoing dietary management
• Emotional eating & mindful eating strategies

Liver & Pancreatic Disease Nutrition

• Specialist support for liver disease, including Wilsons disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis & liver transplant nutrition
• Expertise in pancreatic disease, including acute & chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (PEI) & enzyme replacement therapy (PERT)

Oncology Nutrition

• Dietary support for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation & post-surgical recovery
• Managing treatment side effects, including nausea, appetite loss, weight changes & gut health complications
• Optimising nutrition for strength & immune function

Why Work with Kylie?

• 15+ years of clinical experience in complex medical nutrition
• 100% online consultations - accessible anywhere in New Zealand
• Evidence-based, personalised dietary support tailored to your health needs
• Trusted expert working alongside rfynd Weight Loss for comprehensive weight care solutions
• ACC Sensitive Claims Provider

Book an online consultation today & take the next step toward better health

Qualifications:

• Master of Health Science (First Class Honors), University of Auckland, 2014
• New Zealand Registered Dietitian, Dietitians Board New Zealand, 2009 - current
• Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics (Distinction), University of Otago, 2009
• Bachelor of Science (Human Nutrition), University of Otago, 2007

Advanced Training:

• Prescribing of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), current
• St Marks Intestinal Failure and Rehabilitation Course, 2019
• AuSPEN Advanced Clinical Nutrition Course, 2016
• New Zealand Dietitians Board Annual Prescribers Course, 2014 - current

Publications and Presentations:

1. Robertson RH, Russell K, Jordan V, Pandanaboyana S, Wu D, Windsor J. Postoperative nutritional support after pancreaticoduodenectomy in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2025, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD014792. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014792.pub2
2. Russell K. Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency after Weight Loss Surgery. Oral presentation at the Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS) Conference, Christchurch, 2023.
3. Russell K, Zhang HG, Gillanders LK, et al. Preoperative immunonutrition in patients undergoing liver resection: A prospective randomized trial. World J Hepatol. 2019;11(3):305-317.
4. Russell K, Gillanders LK, Orr DW, Plank LD. Dietary copper restriction in Wilson's disease. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017.
5. Plank, LD.; Russell, K. Nutrition in liver transplantation: too little or too much? Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care Issue: Volume 18(5), September 2015, p 501-507.
6. Russell, K. Effect of Preoperative Immunonutrition on Outcome in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection: A Randomised Pilot Study. University of Auckland Bindery, 2014. Thesis submitted for Masters of Health Science.
7. Russell, K (2015). Hepatitis C and Nutrition. Talking Hep C, 15:8-9.
8. Becker, K., Plank, L.D., Bartlett, A., Gillanders, L.K. Effect of Preoperative Immunonutrition on Outcome in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection: A Randomised Pilot Study. Oral presentation at the Australasian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, 2014.
9. Becker, K.; Fuller., M. Development of a nutrition cardiac recovery presentation for Tahitian patients at Auckland City Hospital. , Nutrition & Dietetics 2010; 67 (Suppl. 2): 3-22. (Abstract). Oral presentation at the Dietitians New Zealand Conference in Dunedin, 2010.
10. Becker K. Resource development of an audio meal support tool for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Oral presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders 7th Annual Conference, Brisbane 2009, and New Zealand Dietetic Association Conference, Hawkes Bay, 2009

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

Dietitian - The term dietitian is a protected term. A dietitian is a registered health professional who meets standards required by the Dietitians Board and has both an undergraduate science degree in human nutrition and a post-graduate qualification in dietetics. To practise in New Zealand, a dietitian must, by law, be registered with the Dietitians Board and hold a current practising certificate. The Dietitians Board protects the health and safety of the New Zealand public under the Health Practitioners Competency Act (HPCA) 2003, by ensuring that every dietitian working in New Zealand is fit to practice and meets standards of professionalism. In New Zealand dietitians are the only nutrition health profession to be regulated by law. Dietitians work in a variety of settings from hospitals, the community, public health, food service, sports, education, research, media and the food industry.  The Dietitians Board regulates the dietetic profession and only those on the Register can call themselves a dietitian and practise as a dietitian…

Nutritionist - The term nutritionist is not a protected term, there is no specific qualification or statutory legislation that regulates that profession and therefore the title can be used freely by anyone. This could range from someone with a PHD in a specialty area of nutrition to someone with no formal training. The Nutrition Society has a programme for registration of nutritionists where a set criteria must be met to achieve registration status… 

(From: https://dietitians.org.nz/pub-info/dietitian-and-nutritionist-what-is-the-difference/)