STEP 01
Tools and Resources
Speak to your GP
You don’t need to battle obesity on your own. Talking to a doctor you trust is the first step to getting the weight loss help you need.
Asking for help
It can be hard to ask for help. You’ve probably been battling obesity on your own for a long time. In a recent survey, over 8/10 people with obesity thought losing weight was solely their responsibility1.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
88% of doctors surveyed across 11 countries agree that obesity is a chronic disease. 95% of GPs believe they can help their patients lose weight1.
Steps to start your journey
Find the right GP
It’s important to find the right health care provider. Studies have found that support from your doctor is one key to successful weight loss2. If you don’t feel supported by your GP, it might be time to find a new one.
STEP 02
Prepare for your appointment
If you’ve found a supportive GP, and booked your appointment, write some notes to get prepared.
You will probably need details about your medical history and whether you’re on any medications. You will need to talk about how you’ve tried to lose weight in the past and any health concerns you have. You might also need to talk about your mood, sleep, and eating habits.
To help you prepare, you might like to fill in the Obesity Risk Test and print it out for your GP.
STEP 03
Talk to your doctor
It might help you write some questions to ask your GP. You could even take a pen and paper to write the answers when you get there. Use our discussion guide to help organise your thoughts and ensure you cover all your concerns during the appointment.
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Access Our Helpful Resources
Download our resources below to begin your journey toward a deeper understanding of obesity and its complexities.
This is a very common question and you will get different answers depending on who you ask. In 2013, the American Medical Association4 voted to categorise obesity as a disease. Since then, the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS)5 and many other organisations around the world have classified obesity as a disease.
However, the Australian Government and the Australian Medical Association have shied away from labelling obesity as a disease, telling the ABC’s Fact Check website that there would be costs involved if it was officially a disease6.
We believe obesity is a disease. By labelling it as a disease it helps reduce the stigma and discrimination that many experience. The debate continues.
2 in 3 adults are overweight or obese7 which puts an enormous burden on our society. OECD’s The Heavy Burden of Obesity report8:
- Australians live on average 2.7 years less because of being overweight.
- Overweight reduces Australia’s GDP by 3.1%.
- Overweight accounts for 8.6% of Australia’s health expenditure.
- To cover these costs, each Australian pays an additional AUD 678 in taxes per year.
- Our labour market outputs are lowered by the equivalent of 371 thousand full-time workers per year.
Many people with obesity also struggle with mental health. Stigma and discrimination in many areas of your life can lead you to using food as a coping mechanism, which can increase your weight.
Studies have found that you’re more likely to be depressed if you have obesity. People with depression are more likely to become obese9.
A doctor will usually check your weight and height and then determine your Body Mass Index (BMI). It’s a very general measure that helps put you into a weight category: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. 11,12,13
Losing weight has many benefits including reducing your risk of developing disease like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. You may have tried losing weight in the past but that doesn’t mean you can’t lose weight in the future.
Successful treatment options for obesity including lifestyle changes, prescription medication and bariatric surgery14.
Find an obesity specialist
If you suspect you have obesity-related health issues or simply want to learn more about your symptoms, starting a conversation with your regular doctor is a great first step.
If your doctor identifies obesity-related concerns, you may need to consult with a specialist. These healthcare professionals are trained in diagnosing and treating obesity with all the latest therapies available. They can provide you with a personalised treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and helps you achieve better health outcomes.
The Specialist Finder may not be comprehensive and inclusion does not imply any endorsement between Medtronic and the Healthcare Professionals included on the list.
The research behind the science
- Caterson I, et al. Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity, Diabetes Obes Metab 2019; 21(8): 1914–24. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31032548/
- Bennett WL, Wang NY, Gudzune KA, et al. Satisfaction with primary care provider involvement is associated with greater weight loss: Results from the practice-based POWER trial. Patient Educ Couns. 2015;98(9):1099-1105. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2015.05.006 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26026649/
- Noll JG, Zeller MH, Trickett PK, Putnam FW. Obesity risk for female victims of childhood sexual abuse: a prospective study. Pediatrics. 2007;120(1):e61-e67. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-3058 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17606550/
- Kyle TK, Dhurandhar EJ, Allison DB. Regarding Obesity as a Disease: Evolving Policies and Their Implications. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2016;45(3):511-520. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2
- Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) Obesity as a chronic relapsing disease process Available at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3b5875edc1485d14d6fe3a/t/5ea170dc5636756e62bff52d/1587638495859/ANZOS-Statement.pdf Accessed December 2021
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Is Obesity a disease? – Fact Check special. Available at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-10/is-obesity-a-disease-fact-check-special/5766114?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment Accessed December 2021
- 016.04.004 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27519127/
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) Overweight and obesity: an interactive insight., AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 15 December 2021 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity-an-interactive-insight/contents/what-is-overweight-and-obesity
- OECD The heavy burden of obesity report 2019 Available from https://www.oecd.org/australia/Heavy-burden-of-obesity-Media-country-note-AUSTRALIA.pdf Accessed December 2021.
- National Health and Medical Research Council (2013). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in adults, adolescents and children in Australia. Available at https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/clinical-practice-guidelines-management-overweight-and-obesity, accessed September 2019.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) Australian Burden of Disease Study 2015: Interactive data on risk factor burden., AIHW, Australian Government, accessed December 2021 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/interactive-data-risk-factor-burden
- RACGP. Obesity prevention and management position statement 2019. Available at https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/RACGP/Position%20statements/Obesity-prevention-and-management.pdf, accessed December 2021.
- RACP Action to prevent obesity and reduce its impact across the life course – Evidence Review. 2018. Available at https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/racp-obesity-position-statement.pdf. Accessed December 2019
- Sumithran P and Proietto J. The defence of body weight: a physiological basis for weight regain after weight loss. Clin Sci 2103; 124: 231–41. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23126426/
- ANZOS and ADS. 2020. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm. Available at: https://static1.squaresp ace.com/static/5e3b5875edc1485d14d6fe3a/t/5f333410b37c0216c50936dc/1597191187793/Australian+Obesity+Management+Algorithm+update_22Jun2020.pdf. Accessed December 2021.