Dr Melissa Bujtor, the founder of https://www.lifespan-nutrition.co.uk/, is an experienced university-qualified registered nutritionist (RNutr), specialising in human nutrition across the lifespan. Dr Bujtor strongly believes that food can be our greatest ally to optimal health and that what you choose to put on your plate is one of the most important health decisions you can make.
She holds a Ph.D. in exercise, nutrition and neuroscience, which she undertook at Kings College London (at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IOPPN) – ranked 2nd in the world for psychology and psychiatry) and Deakin University Australia. Her research examined the associations between modifiable lifestyle behaviours, including dietary intake, and mental health and well-being in children and adolescents. She also holds a master’s degree in human nutrition as well as a bachelor’s degree in commerce, with a finance major.
Dr. Bujtor is also a paediatric feeding specialist, specialising in paediatric feeding disorders. She is SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory approach to feeding) therapy trained and is a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders and Obesity having studied at The National Centre for Eating Disorders, part of The British Psychological Society (BPS). She provides assessment and treatment of individuals from birth to 18 years that have feeding difficulties and weight/growth problems using the SOS Approach to Feeding. This approach integrates posture, sensory, motor, behavioural, learning, medical, and nutritional factors to comprehensively evaluate, treat, and support individuals that may have feeding & growth problems.
Dr Bujtor’s other areas of clinical expertise include:
- Nutrition for the Early Years: from new-born, through weaning and into the crucial early years, including managing reflux, transitioning to solid food, ensuring adequate dietary intake at each life stage and how to navigate food refusal, picky eating and problem feeding
- Family Nutrition: Helping families to develop a healthy relationship with nutritious food and navigate food ruts, feeding difficulties, allergies and intolerances and overwhelming and confusing mainstream media messages and advice.
- Nutrition for Women: Guidance and support to optomise nutrition during key life stages and periods of biological change including adolescence, pre-and postnatal nutrition, and the phases of perimenopause & menopause.
- Sports Nutrition: Whether you are an elite, semi-professional or recreational athlete, how you fuel your body will impact how you perform and recover. Nutrition guidance and strategies are provided to support your sporting endeavours – whatever the level.
That said, she is always happy to discuss all things food and diet-focused, so do get in touch!
Alongside her clinical work Dr Bujtor continues to collaborate on research projects and her research interests include advances in the field of nutritional psychiatry and understanding the mechanisms, at the level of the body and the brain, underlying the effect of nutrition on mental health, especially in the crucial early years. As well as the field of allergic disease, specifically food allergies, and the field of paediatric feeding disorders.