Malnutrition is not always easy to spot

Malnutrition can develop when your body is not receiving enough energy, protein or other nutrients to meet its needs. It can happen gradually and is not limited to people who look underweight.

Weight Changes

Unplanned weight loss matters

A gradual drop in weight can be easy to overlook, particularly during illness or as people get older. Changes in how clothing fits can sometimes be an early clue.

Strength

Muscle can be lost too

Nutrition is not only about the number on the scales. Reduced food intake can also affect muscle, strength and your ability to manage everyday activities.

Appetite

Eating enough can become difficult

Poor appetite, nausea, pain, fatigue, medication changes or difficulty preparing meals can all make it harder to eat enough across the day.

Losing weight without trying deserves attention.

Unexplained or ongoing weight loss should also be discussed with your GP or treating medical team so possible medical causes can be investigated. Dietitian support can then work alongside your medical care.

How a malnutrition dietitian can help

Being told to “eat more” is rarely enough. We look at why eating has become difficult, what you are currently managing and where small changes could make the biggest difference.

Assessment

Understand what has changed

We review recent weight changes, appetite, usual food intake, health conditions, symptoms and any barriers that are making meals harder.

Food First

Get more from the food you already eat

Small additions to familiar meals can increase energy and protein without necessarily increasing the amount of food on your plate.

Protein

Support strength and recovery

We can help spread useful sources of protein across meals and snacks in a way that suits your appetite, food preferences and health needs.

Appetite

Make smaller meals work harder

When large meals feel overwhelming, we can help create a smaller, more frequent eating pattern that provides more nutrition across the day.

Supplements

Choose supplements for a reason

If food alone is not meeting your needs, your dietitian can assess whether an oral nutrition supplement may help and how it can fit around meals rather than simply replacing them.

Monitoring

Adjust the plan as things change

Appetite and nutrition needs can change during recovery. Follow-up appointments allow us to review progress and adapt your plan when needed.

Food strategies that fit a smaller appetite

When appetite is poor, simply increasing portion sizes can make meals feel even harder. We usually look for ways to improve the nutrition in foods you already enjoy and can comfortably manage.

Add nutrition without adding a huge meal Meals can often be enriched using everyday ingredients so each mouthful provides more energy, protein or both.
Eat when your appetite is at its best Your biggest meal does not have to be at dinner. We can work around the times of day when eating feels easiest.
Use meals and snacks together Several smaller eating opportunities may feel more manageable than relying on three large meals to meet your needs.
Include nourishing drinks when useful Milk-based drinks, smoothies or prescribed nutrition supplements may provide another way to increase intake when solid food is difficult.
There is no single “malnutrition diet”.

The right approach depends on your appetite, health, food preferences, symptoms, swallowing ability, living situation and what you are realistically able to eat.

Do you need a nutrition supplement?

Nutrition drinks and other oral supplements can be useful, but they are not automatically the first or only answer to weight loss. We consider what you are already eating before deciding whether additional support is worthwhile.

Need

Work out what is missing

Your dietitian can assess whether your current intake is providing enough energy, protein and other important nutrients for your individual situation.

Choice

Find something you can actually use

Taste, volume, texture, nutrient content and your medical needs all matter. We can help narrow down suitable options without relying on a one-size-fits-all product.

Timing

Protect your appetite for meals

When supplements are appropriate, we can help plan when and how to use them so they support your overall intake rather than unnecessarily replacing food you still enjoy.

When nutrition support may be useful

Poor appetite and unintentional weight loss can occur for many reasons. You do not need to wait until eating becomes extremely difficult before asking for support.

After illness or hospitalisation Appetite and strength can take time to return. Nutrition support can help you rebuild intake gradually during recovery.
Older adults Changes in appetite, mobility, health, medications, chewing, shopping or meal preparation can all affect how much someone eats.
Chronic health conditions Some health conditions increase nutrition needs or make eating, digestion and absorption more difficult.
Cancer and medical treatment Treatment side effects, taste changes, nausea, fatigue or reduced appetite can make maintaining nutrition more difficult.
Difficulty eating or swallowing If chewing or swallowing has changed, nutrition may need to be adapted while your medical team and speech pathologist investigate and manage the cause.
Family and carer concerns We can work with family members and carers when someone needs help with meal planning, food preparation or maintaining their nutrition at home.

What to expect at your appointment

You do not need to arrive with a perfect food diary or have everything worked out. We start with what has been happening and build the plan from there.

1 We listen first We discuss your weight history, appetite, health, symptoms, usual meals, preferences and what has made eating more difficult.
2 We identify priorities Rather than changing everything at once, we focus on the nutrition issues that matter most for your current health and recovery.
3 We make it practical You leave with realistic food ideas, meal strategies and supplement guidance if needed, tailored to what you can manage at home.

Nutrition support that feels manageable

When someone is unwell, tired or worried about losing weight, complicated nutrition rules are often the last thing they need. At Simply Nutrition, we focus on advice that fits the person in front of us.

Listen

Your situation comes first

We take time to understand what has changed, what food feels manageable and what matters to you before recommending a plan.

Practical

Real food. Real routines.

Advice needs to work outside the appointment. We aim for realistic changes that suit your appetite, budget, preferences, support and daily routine.

Adapt

Your plan can change with you

Recovery is rarely perfectly linear. We can adjust nutrition strategies as appetite, health, independence or treatment changes.

Meet Simply Nutrition

Access dietitian support your way

Depending on your location and needs, support may be available in clinic, by telehealth or through selected home visits.

Clinic appointments

Meet with one of our dietitians at selected clinic locations across South East Queensland.

Telehealth across Australia

Access practical nutrition support from home through Australia-wide telehealth appointments.

Selected home visits

Home visits may be available in selected service areas when getting to a clinic is difficult.

View Appointment Options
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Individual nutrition advice
Support based on your health, appetite, food preferences and current nutrition needs.
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Food-first strategies
Practical ways to improve energy and protein intake using foods you already know.
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Supplements when appropriate
Guidance on nutrition supplements when they are genuinely useful as part of your overall plan.

Malnutrition and unintentional weight loss FAQs

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition can occur when your body is not receiving enough energy, protein or other nutrients to meet its needs. It may be related to poor appetite, illness, difficulty eating, increased nutrition requirements or problems absorbing nutrients.

Can you be malnourished without being underweight?

Yes. Malnutrition is not determined by appearance alone. Someone can experience inadequate nutrition, unintentional weight loss or muscle loss at different body sizes.

When should I be concerned about unintentional weight loss?

Weight loss that you were not intending, particularly when it is ongoing or accompanied by poor appetite, weakness or illness, should be discussed with your GP. A dietitian can also assess your intake and help you improve your nutrition while medical causes are investigated or treated.

What does a dietitian do for malnutrition?

A dietitian can assess your current intake and weight history, identify factors making it difficult to eat enough and develop practical strategies to increase energy, protein and overall nutrition.

Do I need protein shakes or nutrition supplements?

Not everyone needs a nutrition supplement. We usually review what you are eating first and look at practical food-based strategies. If you are still unable to meet your needs, a suitable supplement may form part of your nutrition plan.

Can you help someone who has very little appetite?

Yes. We can help make smaller meals and snacks more nutritionally useful, identify foods that are easier to manage and work around the times when appetite is strongest.

Can family members or carers be involved?

Yes. With the person's consent, family members and carers can be involved where this makes meal preparation, shopping or nutrition strategies easier to put into practice.

Can older people see a dietitian for weight loss and poor appetite?

Yes. Poor appetite and unintentional weight loss should not simply be dismissed as part of ageing. Dietitian support can help assess nutrition risk and develop practical strategies to maintain intake, strength and wellbeing.

Can I see a malnutrition dietitian by telehealth?

Yes. Simply Nutrition Dietitians provides telehealth consultations across Australia. Clinic and selected home visit options may also be available depending on location.

Do I need a referral?

You can contact our team directly about an appointment. Referrals from GPs, specialists, hospitals and other health professionals can also be submitted to Simply Nutrition.

Worried about weight loss or not eating enough?

Our dietitians can help you build a practical nutrition plan around your appetite, health and everyday routine, with food strategies and nutrition supplements where appropriate.

Submit a Referral Contact Our Team
Good Humans. Great Dietitians. Ready To Support You.  
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