"Nutrition plays a fundamental role in optimising personal health and well-being, as well as that of the communities and the overall health of our planet."
Dr Melissa Bujtor
...the founder of Lifespan Nutrition, is an experienced, university-qualified, registered nutritionist (RNutr), specialising in human nutrition across the lifespan, with a particular focus on women's health and paediatric nutrition (birth to 18 years). She is also a paediatric feeding specialist, focussed on paediatric feeding disorders, and is a member of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr Bujtor strongly believes that leading an optimal lifestyle can be the greatest ally for our mental and physical health and well-being, and her clinical practices are informed by the principles of lifestyle medicine.
Lifestyle Medicine, is a branch of medicine that is evidence-based, clinical care that supports behaviour change through person-centred techniques. It aims to improve mental and physical well-being through social connection, healthy eating, physical activity, adequate good quality sleep and minimisation of harmful substances and behaviours.
With a grounding in the nutritional sciences, Dr Bujtor believes that what you put on your plate might be the most important lifestyle decision you can make daily. Ensuring you are appropriately and adequately fueling yourself provides the foundation for all of life's endeavours. She is a peer-reviewed, published scientist and takes an evidence-based approach to dietary practices, with quality scientific evidence always underpinning her lifestyle advice and dietary interventions.
Dr Bujtor is a warm, empathetic and engaging person, who prides herself in her abilities to provide a supportive, yet entirely professional approach to her therapy.
She is also a proud mother to two beautiful boys, an avid and creative cook, marathon runner and very keen vegetable gardener!
Professional background
Dr Bujtor holds a Ph.D., which she undertook at Deakin University Australia and Kings College London. 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. She is currently undertaking a Masters of Science in Psychology.
As a scientific researcher, she spent time working at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IOPPN), ranked 2nd in the world for psychology and psychiatry, at King’s College London. She worked on various research projects relating to dietary intake and mental health and is a published scientific researcher. Dr. Bujtor’s 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 fields of allergic disease, specifically food allergies, and paediatric feeding disorders.
Prior to her career in science, Dr Bujtor spent 13 years as a corporate finance professional, focusing on M&A, private & structured financing and special situation transactions. Her experience, diverse skill set and broad network that spans Europe (UK), Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, China), and Australia, provide her with a unique perspective. This enables her to successfully act as a bridge between industry and science, providing novel insights, generating value and creating impact.
Accreditations
Association for Nutrition UK - Registered Nutritionist (RNutr.)
British Dietetics Association - Member
British Society of Lifestyle Medicine - Member
British Menopause Society - Member
Post Doctoral Training
Dr Bujtor completed her Ph.D. at Deakin University Australia and Kings College London. Her research examined the associations between modifiable lifestyle behaviours, including dietary intake, and mental health and well-being in children and adolescents.
Education
Ph.D. Exercise and Nutrition Science, Mental Health
MSc Psychology
MSc Human Nutrition
Bachelor of Business - finance major
Clinical Training
British Dietetics Association - Advanced Dietetics in Eating Disorders
Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders - Intensive Treatment Programme
SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory Approach to Feeding) - Therapist training
SOS Food Scientist Model: SOS Approach to Feeding adaptation for the school-aged child
SOS: Feeding the Child on the Autism Spectrum
SOS: Transitioning off Supplemental Tube Feedings
Master Practitioner - Eating Disorders and Obesity (British Psychological Society)