UK-N/A-2400278 | September 2025
Authors:
Carrie Ruxton
Kayennat Toofany, RD
Publish Date:
May 2024 | 22 min
Abstract:
This video highlights the importance of skeletal muscle in health, the consequences of muscle decline, and effective interventions to preserve muscle mass. It also covers the role of Primary Care Network (PCN) dietitians in managing frailty, assessing muscle health, and the limitations of current screening tools.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explore the role of skeletal muscle in maintaining overall health, emphasising its significance in patient outcomes and the effects of muscle decline.
Learn about the role of the PCN dietitian and the impact on identifying and implementing interventions to preserve muscle mass and breaking the cycle of muscle decline.
Gain insights into the limitations of current screening tools like ‘MUST’, and learn how to apply the GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition.
AUTHOR(S) BIO
CARRIE RUXTON
Independent dietitian, Cupar
Carrie Ruxton is a registered dietitian with a PhD in Nutrition from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. She has been freelancing for more than 20 years, working for a wide variety of food companies and trade bodies with the goal of helping to communicate nutrition science to different audiences. This involves content creation, public relations and stakeholder engagement, as well as commissioning and managing research.
Carrie is a Board member of Quality Meat Scotland (2023-) and the Trustee for Strategic Communications at the Nutrition Society (2020-). She also served as a Board member of Food Standards Scotland from its launch in 2015 to 2023. Outside of work, Carrie stood for Parliament three times (1999-2006) gaining valuable skills in public speaking and media engagement. She also contributes regularly to newspaper articles, podcasts and radio shows and has several TV credits. Her awards include the BDA's Elizabeth Washington Award (2011), Emerald Literati Outstanding Paper Award (2011) and Complete Nutrition's Writer of the Year (2013-14). In 2023, Carrie was nominated for Nutritionist of the Year by the Food and Drink Federation.
KAYENNAT TOOFANY, RD
Clinical Lead for Dietetics
Dudley Primary Care Networks
Kayennat is an extensively experienced dietitian embedded in primary care in Dudley. A proud Brummie with extensive experience in the West Midlands and the Black Country, she fosters improving access to dietetics and evidence-based nutritional care. She is the Clinical Lead for Dietitians in Primary Care in Dudley Borough.
As an “expert generalist,” Kayennat provides comprehensive dietary guidance across all ages and conditions. Her specialties include cow’s milk protein allergy, selective eating, disease-related malnutrition, frailty, weight management, IBS, diverticulosis, menopause and general healthy eating.
Kayennat is deeply interested in gut health and its significant impact on overall well-being. She emphasises the importance of gut health for both present and future health, recognising its emerging position in the field of nutrition.
