About the
Cardiometabolic Dietitian
Hi, I'm Dr Rebecca Luong, the Cardiometabolic Dietitian, an Accredited Practising Dietitian, and Accredited Sports Dietitian.
I love food and have always been fascinated by its power with an unwavering curiosity about its science. Whilst studying food science, I worked as a medical receptionist at a clinic. It was here that I saw firsthand the importance of taking care of our bodies and the incredible opportunity to help individuals along their health journey.
This inspired me to pursue a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics to combine my love of food with my passion for health. I immediately began helping clients improve their health, and also worked in various areas of dietetics including clinical dietetics, community health, nutrition research, supermarket nutrition, and academia, to gain a better understanding of how it all comes together to provide the best practical and personalised nutrition solutions.
Through my work, I have seen a concerning rise in cardiometabolic conditions that often present together and impact individuals' day-to-day lives including high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, ultimately leading to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, the related condition of fatty liver, shortened healthspan and life expectancy. Determined to make a difference and translate science to the highest quality evidence-based nutrition advice, I pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in Cardiometabolic Health. I have learned that when implemented correctly you can start seeing changes in as little as 1-4 weeks.
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I am committed to helping you improve your cardiometabolic health, manage and prevent heart and metabolic conditions for longevity. By empowering you with the best nutrition knowledge, skills, resources and personalised advice to your needs, you can take charge of your health and wellbeing. Feel more confident, more in control, and ready to take on the world. You can achieve anything you set your mind to. Let’s work together for heart healthy, energised living!
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​Qualifications & Awards:
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Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
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Accredited Sports Dietitian (ASD)
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Anthropometrist
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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Health, The University of Sydney
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Master of Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Sydney
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Bachelor of Science (Food Science) with Distinction, The University of New South Wales
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Dietitians Australia President's Award for Innovation at Heartful Flavours
Australian Commonwealth Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship
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Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research Scholarship
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The University of Sydney Completion Stipend Scholarship
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International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference Best Special Interest Group (Ageing) Presentation
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Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Population Aging Research Higher Degree Research Conference Travel Scheme
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Charles Perkins Centre Early to Mid-Career Researcher Professional Development Award​
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Charles Perkins Centre Early to Mid-Career Researcher Travel Funding Award
King & Amy O'Malley Trust Postgraduate Scholarship​
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The University of New South Wales Dean's Honours Lists
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Professional Activities:
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2020-2022 Co-Chair of The University of Sydney Charles Perkins Centre Early to Mid-Career Researchers Steering Committee
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2016-2019 Dietitians Australia Health, Behaviour & Weight Management Interest Group Committee Member
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2016-2018 Dietitians Australia Diabetes Interest Group Committee Member
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International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 21st Meeting 2022 Conference Oral Presentation
Dietitians Australia 2022 Conference Oral Presentation
16th International Congress of Behavioural Medicine 2021 Conference Oral Presentation
Nutrition Society of Australia 2020 Conference Annual Scientific Meeting Conference Poster Presentation -
Dietitian Connection Nutritional Requirements in Older People: Updates on the Current Practice and Research
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NSW Falls Prevention Network Forum
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The University of Sydney Fit for Your Life Prescribing Evidence-Based Exercise as Medicine in Older Adults Workshop
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University of Tasmania Wicking Dementia Research & Education Centre Preventing Dementia Course
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Balmain Hospital Allied Health Grand Rounds- Acceptability of using Whey Protein Isolate, Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy
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Balmain Hospital Swallowing on a Plate Education Series
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Sydney Local Health District Metabolism and Obesity Clinic Service Presentation and Very Low Energy Diet
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Renal Update Kidney Disease in the Elderly
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Gut Microbiome Seminar
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Food Allergy & Food Chemical Intolerance Workshop
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Sydney Local Health District Allied Health Research Forum
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American Society for Nutrition Live Online, Eating to protect our health and our planet
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Health Education and Training Institute Motivational Interviewing, Falls Prevention and Falls Risk Management, The Confused Patient: Dementia or Delirium, Pressure Injury Prevention: Risk Management, Person Centred Care & Care Coordination
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Managing a patient's lifestyle - Get Healthy Information and Coaching
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Better Health Company Behaviour Change Education Training
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Certificate IV in New Small Business
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Publications:
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Luong R, Ribeiro RV, Naganathan V, Blyth F, Waite LM, Handelsman DJ, Le Couteur DG, Seibel M, Hirani V. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between empirically derived dietary patterns and frailty among older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging. 2024. Published online 01/01/2024.
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Luong R, Ribeiro RV, Naganathan V, Blyth F, Waite LM, Handelsman DJ, Le Couteur DG, Seibel M, Hirani V. Empirically derived dietary patterns are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and congestive cardiac failure in older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging. 2024. Published online 01/01/2024.
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Luong R. Dietary intake and their associations with cardiometabolic health and frailty. The University of Sydney. Doctor of Philosophy Thesis. 2023.
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Luong R, Ribeiro RV, Hirani V, Simpson S, Le Couteur DG, Raubenheimer D, Gosby AK. Associations between protein to non-protein ratio and intakes of other dietary components in a cohort aged 65-75 years: the Nutrition for Healthy Living Study. Public Health Nutrition. Published online 11/08/2023. doi: 10.1017/S1368980023001726. PMID: 37565467.
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Luong R, Ribeiro R.V, Rangan A, Naganathan V, Blyth F, Waite LM, Handelsman DJ, Le Couteur DG, Seibel M, Hirani V. Haem iron intake is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, congestive cardiac failure, and coronary revascularisation in older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging. 2023;27:559-570. doi: 10.1007/s12603-023-1945-6. PMID: 37498103.
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Luong R, Ribeiro RV, Rangan A, Naganathan V, Blyth F, Waite LM, Handelsman DJ, Cumming RG, Le Couteur DG, Hirani V. Changes in dietary total and non-haem iron intake is associated with incident frailty in older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2022;77(9):1853-1865. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glac077. PMID: 35352124.
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Luong R, Ribeiro RV, Cunningham J, Chen S, Hirani V. The short- and long-term effects of dietary patterns on cardiometabolic health in adults aged 65 years or older: a systematic review. Nutrition Reviews. 2022;80(3):329-350. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuab032. PMID: 34272960.
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Findlay M, Purvis M, Venman R, Luong R, Carey S. Nutritional management of patients with oesophageal cancer throughout the treatment trajectory: benchmarking against best practice. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2020;28(12):5963-5971. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05416-x. PMID: 32281035.
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Luong R, Kim M, Lee A, Carey S. Assessing nutritional status in a cohort of liver cirrhosis outpatients: A prospective cross-sectional study. Nutrition and Health. 2020;26(1):19-25. doi: 10.1177/0260106019888362. PMID: 31779515.
Need Help With...
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Reducing total cholesterol, LDL 'bad' cholesterol and triglycerides
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Increasing 'good' HDL cholesterol
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Managing blood pressure
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Improving blood sugar control and insulin
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Improving weight, body composition, reducing waist circumference and abdominal fat, maintaining and gaining muscle
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Metabolic syndrome
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Heart disease
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Diabetes
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Fatty liver
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Healthy ageing and longevity
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Healthy eating for prevention