Esmeralda Pelayo Ko, RDN, MS, MPA

Hello! I’m Esme :)

I’m a Registered Dietitian that is passionate about helping individuals achieve their health and wellness goals through personalized, evidence-based nutrition strategies. I believe in meeting clients where they are—recognizing that every journey is unique and requires a tailored approach. My philosophy centers on making sustainable, realistic changes that fit seamlessly into your daily life. I truly believe that it's the little things that we do daily that help set us up for success. 

With a Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity, I focus not only on immediate health improvements but also on long-term well-being and performance. My experience spans a wide range of settings, from helping fuel elite NFL athletes for peak performance to providing critical nutrition support for ICU patients in hospital settings. This diverse background has given me a deep understanding of how nutrition impacts the body across all stages of health, from optimizing recovery to enhancing wellness and longevity.

While nutrition is at the core of my practice, I take a holistic approach by also addressing the five other key pillars of wellness: movement, sleep, stress management, gut health, and connection. By focusing on the whole person, I help my clients build a strong foundation for long-term success.

My goal is to provide actionable guidance that empowers you to make balanced and sustainable lifestyle changes. Whether you're looking for weight management, to manage or prevent a chronic disease, or simply live a healthier and happier life, I’d love to support you every step of the way.

Qualifications

Clinical Outpatient Dietitian - Keck Medicine of USC

  • Internal Medicine Medical Nutrition Therapy

    • Allergies/intolerances, Chronic Kidney Disease /renal, diabetes/pre diabetes, GI distress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), Rheumatoid Arthritis, surgery optimization, weight gain/loss, women’s health

  • Intensive Behavior Therapy for Obesity

    • A structured, evidence-based approach that helps individuals with obesity make sustainable lifestyle changes to support weight loss and improve overall health. Key components to help patients reach their goals include goal setting, monitoring, problem solving, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention

RD Fellow - Keck Medicine of USC

  • Inpatient Hepatology, Liver Transplant, and Heart Failure

  • Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Oncology

  • Inpatient and Outpatient Cystic Fibrosis and Advanced Lung Disease

  • Outpatient Internal Medicine

Supervised Practice

  • Keck Medicine of USC

  • USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

  • Holistic Health & Wellness Private Practice

  • Los Angeles Chargers

Registered Dietitian (RD) Credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) | Credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, & Longevity - University of Southern California

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