When it comes to matters of the gut, Dr. Dorit Samocha-Bonet is the woman you want to be conversing with. She is not selling beautifully branded probiotics or edible beauty products. She has been researching the fascinating link between gut health and weight loss.

The clinical dietician, who currently holds a postdoctoral position at the Diabetes & Metabolism Division at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, spoke at our latest Sydney Social Club and explained the impact our gut can have on health. And how everyone’s gut microbiome differs. Numerous studies, she said, show people with diabetes or obesity have a different makeup of gut bacteria than lean and healthy people of the same age and gender. And our gut microbiome affects how much of our diet we digest and, consequently, how much weight we lose. The clinical dietician is continuing to research how personalised diets can address this.