Updated August 2026.
As a fitness professional, you already know that real results go beyond the gym floor. While strength training, conditioning, and movement are powerful tools, your clients’ health outcomes are often shaped just as much by what happens outside their workouts – nutrition, sleep, stress, and lifestyle habits.
That’s why the Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2026 (DFN LM26), happening in Sydney on Saturday 28 November, is such a valuable event for fitness leaders. Hosted by Doctors For Nutrition, this is Australasia’s only nutrition-led lifestyle medicine conference, and organisers are billing it as the most affordable lifestyle medicine conference in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s designed not just for doctors and healthcare professionals, but for anyone working in the wellness, fitness, or health space who wants to expand their knowledge and deliver better outcomes for their clients.
Long-time followers of the event will notice a few changes for 2026: what was previously known as the Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Symposium (NLMS) has been rebranded as a full Conference, and it’s relocated from Adelaide to Sydney.
What can fitness professionals expect from DFN LM26?
The conference takes place Saturday 28 November 2026 at the Sydney Masonic Centre, with the IBLM Lifestyle Medicine Certification Exam running the following day (Sunday 29 November, 10am–2pm AEDT) for those who’ve completed the prerequisites. As with previous years, sessions cover all six pillars of lifestyle medicine – nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and avoidance of risky substances.
As fitness professionals, this is a chance to deepen your understanding of evidence-based strategies you can weave into your coaching. Whether it’s helping clients manage chronic conditions, offering practical nutrition guidance, or recognising how sleep and stress affect recovery, you’ll walk away with insights you can apply immediately.
Chronic disease is on the rise, and clients are increasingly turning to fitness professionals not just for workouts, but for holistic guidance. Attending DFN LM26 will:
- Boost your knowledge – Learn directly from medical, nutrition and exercise science experts about how lifestyle medicine is transforming health outcomes.
- Differentiate your services – Position yourself as a fitness professional who understands the full picture of health, not just training.
- Expand your network – Connect with doctors, dietitians, and allied health professionals who share your vision for better preventative health care.
- Earn credibility – The conference is approved for CPD hours (Educational Activities) with the RACGP and ACRRM, and other attendees will gain evidence-based tools that elevate professional practice.
Who should attend?
Organisers have made a point of widening the invite for 2026. As well as GPs, medical specialists and healthcare students, they’re explicitly calling out health coaches, wellness practitioners, and fitness professionals as part of the target audience – alongside dietitians, allied health, researchers, and community leaders.
Speakers announced so far
Doctors For Nutrition has confirmed the first wave of a “powerhouse line-up” of local and international speakers, with more expected to be announced closer to the event:
- Dr Christopher Gardner – PhD nutrition scientist and Professor of Medicine, a leading US researcher known for his work on diet and metabolic health.
- Dr Juliette Roex – General Practitioner and returning DFN speaker.
- Dr Chris Davis – GP and Addiction Medicine Specialist.
- Dr Megan Lee – Assistant Professor.
- Rebecca Deutsch – Certification & MOC Manager, American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM).
- Dr Luke Wilson – General Practitioner and DFN Board Director.
- Drew Harrisberg – Exercise physiologist, sports scientist, and diabetes educator who thrives while living with type 1 diabetes. Drew’s story resonates with fitness professionals who see the power of movement and mindset in managing health challenges.
- Caitlin Arnold – Accredited Sports Nutritionist.
- Brodie Cross – Competitive athlete.
- Clint Paddison – Master of Ceremonies for the event.
For fitness professionals committed to bridging the gap between exercise and whole-person health, DFN LM26 is an opportunity to grow, connect, and bring the latest science back to your clients. This isn’t just another conference – it’s a chance to be at the forefront of a movement redefining how we approach wellbeing.
Key details at a glance
- Event: Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2026 (DFN LM26)
- Date: Saturday 28 November 2026 (optional IBLM certification exam Sunday 29 November)
- Location: Sydney Masonic Centre, Sydney NSW
- Host: Doctors For Nutrition
- CPD: Approved for CPD hours with RACGP and ACRRM
Learn more and secure your ticket at Doctors For Nutrition.
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