Samuel James Thearson

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Sam Thearson is an experienced, evidence-based dietitian who provides personalised, practical and realistic nutritional advice tailored to each individual.
Throughout his career, Sam has worked across a broad range of clinical specialties, including general dietetics, surgery, critical care, weight management, oncology, renal and respiratory medicine. This varied experience allows him to support people with both straightforward and complex nutritional needs, while keeping recommendations practical and achievable.

Sam has particular expertise in bariatric surgery and currently works as Clinical Lead Dietitian for Bariatric Surgery at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. He supports patients before and after bariatric surgery, including nutritional optimisation, management of deficiencies, dietary progression, weight-loss maintenance and long-term nutritional health.

He also has extensive experience in oncology and prehabilitation, supporting people before, during and after cancer treatment. Nutritional care can play an important role in maintaining strength, muscle mass, energy intake and overall resilience throughout treatment and recovery.
Sam supports patients with a wide range of nutritional and metabolic concerns, including unwanted weight loss, sarcopenia, Type 2 diabetes, reactive hypoglycaemia, lipid disorders, familial hypercholesterolaemia and statin intolerance.

He is also FODMAP trained and works extensively with gastrointestinal conditions, including IBS, coeliac disease, pancreatitis, liver disease and other hepatopancreatobiliary conditions. His approach to gastrointestinal nutrition is evidence-based and individualised, with a focus on identifying practical dietary changes without unnecessary restriction.

His wider clinical experience includes neurological conditions, stroke, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, rehabilitation, pre- and post-surgical nutrition, and women’s health conditions such as PCOS, menopause and endometriosis. He also provides nutritional support for male fertility concerns where diet and lifestyle may influence sperm quality.

Alongside his specialist work, Sam continues to provide general dietetic support for people seeking help with improving their diet, managing weight, meeting nutritional requirements, or making sense of conflicting nutrition advice.

Sam’s approach is straightforward and evidence-led. Rather than aiming for a ‘perfect’ diet, he focuses on giving people clear, realistic advice that fits their health needs, lifestyle and priorities.