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If you’ve been eating well, hitting 5:00 am gym classes, and limiting alcohol, but the scales just won’t budge, you’re not alone.
This is where a weight loss GP can make a real difference. Seeing a doctor to talk through weight-loss medications and treatment plans means someone is finally considering your full picture.
ON THIS PAGE
- Four weight loss myths
- Weight loss treatments
- Injectable medications
- Lifestyle strategies
- Bariatric surgery
- Benefits of losing weight
- Why consult a weight loss GP?
- About Dr Achala Manchanda
A GP experienced in medical weight management looks beyond willpower. They consider your:
- Hormones & metabolism
- Medical & family history
- Current medications
- Stress levels & sleep
Most importantly, they build a plan tailored to you.
That might mean fine-tuning your diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits and, in some cases, combining them with weight loss medications or surgery.
Healthy weight loss and maintenance were never about extremes. It’s about understanding your body and getting the right support behind you.
Below, we’ll walk through common treatment options, including injectable medications and surgical procedures, as well as the real benefits of booking a weight loss GP consultation.
Four Weight Loss Myths From the Web
Online weight loss advice can be confusing, and much of it is questionable. Let’s clear up a few common myths.
“You must exercise every day.”
Physical activity supports overall health and can help with weight loss. However, nutrition, sleep, stress, and hormonal factors also play major roles in body weight.
A weight loss GP helps you cut through the noise and focus on what actually works.
“Carbs are bad.”
Your body uses carbohydrates for energy. Choosing whole, minimally processed options matters more than eliminating carbs entirely, although some people do well with low-carbohydrate diets
“Skipping meals helps you lose weight.”
For many people, skipping meals leads to low energy and overeating later in the day. Regular, balanced meals can help support appetite control and steady energy levels.
Some people do well with structured approaches like intermittent fasting, but the best approach varies from person to person.
“Supplements will fix everything.”
Most “fat-burning” products lack strong scientific evidence. Sustainable weight loss comes from consistent habits and, when appropriate, medical support.
Treatments Available
Together, we can explore the treatment options available to you and choose the approach that best supports your goals, while prioritising your overall health and wellbeing.
These options come in three broad categories:
- Medications: Including injectable options
- Behavioural strategies: Diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes
- Surgery: Procedures for people with more significant weight-related health concerns
Your GP can explain how each option works, including potential benefits, risks, and approximate costs, and help you decide which approaches suit you.
Injectable Weight Loss Medicines
These medications, also used to treat type 2 diabetes, include GLP-1 receptor and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, available under several brand names.
Injectable medications can help with weight loss and support long-term weight management.
They work by mimicking natural gut hormones, which help:
- Reduce hunger
- Increase feelings of fullness
- Slow digestion
Weight loss doctors generally consider the medications for people with:
- A body mass index (BMI) over 30, or
- A BMI of 27 or more with weight-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or sleep apnoea.
Naturally, we’ll consider your individual circumstances when deciding whether these treatments are suitable and explain potential side effects and how to manage them.
Effective weight management is usually a long-term process. Medications are just one part of a holistic approach that includes nutrition, physical activity, and strategies to maintain muscle during weight loss.
Diet, Exercise, and Lifestyle Changes
Healthy weight loss starts with simple, sustainable habits.
Instead of extreme or restrictive diets, the focus is on balanced meals, appropriate portion sizes, and whole, nourishing foods.
Regular aerobic activity, such as walking or swimming, supports fat loss and overall health.
But exercise isn’t just about burning calories.
Strength training helps preserve muscle and maintain metabolism, which is especially important during weight loss.
Sleep, stress, and daily routines also influence weight and well-being.
Even when medications or surgery are part of your plan, sustainable lifestyle changes remain essential for long-term success.
Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery can be a helpful option for some people, such as:
- People living with obesity – usually those with a BMI of 40 or higher
- In some cases, people with a lower BMI who also have significant associated health conditions
Bariatric surgery aims to reduce stomach size and, in some procedures, changes how food moves through the digestive system.
Most procedures use laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), which involves a smaller incision and typically a faster recovery than open surgery.
Such procedures include:
- Gastric sleeve: By far, the most commonly performed weight loss surgery. During the procedure, surgeons remove part of the stomach, leaving a smaller, tube-shaped stomach. This helps you feel full sooner and may reduce hunger hormones.
- Gastric bypass: This procedure changes both stomach size and the path food takes through the digestive system. A small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine. This reduces both food intake and calorie absorption.
- Adjustable Gastric Band: An inflatable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch which fills quickly, helping you feel full after eating a small meal. The band can be adjusted through a small port under the skin to support changes in comfort and weight-loss goals.
Weight loss surgery can also significantly improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Surgery is a major decision and requires careful consideration, preparation and long-term follow-up.
A weight loss GP can guide you through the process and, if appropriate, refer you to experienced bariatric specialists.
Benefits of Losing Weight
You’ve probably heard the benefits before, so here’s a quick summary of the key ways losing excess weight can improve health and wellbeing:
- Boosted energy levels: Carrying less excess weight reduces strain on the body and can improve day-to-day energy.
- Improved confidence and mental well-being: Feeling stronger and healthier can support mood, confidence and overall mental health.
- Better sleep quality: Weight loss can improve sleep patterns and may reduce snoring or sleep apnoea.
- Greater mobility and less joint pain: Reduced pressure on hips, knees, and ankles makes movement easier and more comfortable.
- Better overall health: Healthy weight loss can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, and may help manage chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
Even modest weight loss can lead to meaningful health improvements.
Why See a Weight Loss GP Instead of Going It Alone?
Working with a doctor means you’re not tackling weight loss alone. Your health is in good hands.
Your doctor can help you set realistic, achievable goals and monitor your progress safely over time.
If you need extra support, they can refer you to trusted specialists such as dietitians, exercise physiologists, endocrinologists, or bariatric surgeons.
Your GP will also help you prevent and manage weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, and joint pain, keeping your overall health at the forefront.
Importantly, weight loss isn’t just physical. Doctors can support your mental health too, helping you navigate motivation, stress, emotional eating, and self-confidence along the way.
Together, you and your GP can decide on a weight management treatment plan that fits your health, lifestyle, and goals.
One that works for you, not against you.
Dr Achala Manchanda (MBChB, FRACGP, Dip Child Health) is a local GP at Doctors of South Melbourne.
She has extensive experience in weight loss care and a special interest in chronic and complex health, as well as women’s health.
You can book an appointment with Achala online or call us on 8579 6838.
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