Guidelines for eligibility include:

• Age >18
• BMI 27 with weight related comorbidities
• Or BMI ≥ 30 with no comorbidities needed
• No eating disorders
• No pancreatitis
• No untreated acute psychiatric disorders
• No alcohol or drug dependency
• Has tried other avenues without success
• Committed to a healthy lifestyle and lifelong care

Pharmacotherapy is often best used to maintain weight loss following intensive dietary therapy (e.g. VLED), placement of intragastric balloons or even after bariatric surgery, or to prevent or reduce weight regain.

Note: these are guidelines, and all patients require a discussion regarding treatment.

If you don’t know your BMI, you can calculate it here.

There is no single expected result. The right goal depends on your starting weight, your health conditions, what you have tried before, and what matters most to you. Your specialist and dietitian will set realistic targets with you at your first appointments.

Progress is rarely steady. Most people lose weight faster in the early months, then plateau, and the body’s natural response to weight loss makes maintenance the hardest part. That is why our program focuses on long-term follow-up, not just the first few months.

If you need or want a larger degree of weight loss, surgical and endoscopic treatments are generally more effective. You can see how the options compare in our treatment comparison chart, and we will discuss whether these are suitable for you.

While data on long-term safety and effectiveness of medications for weight loss is limited, it is expected that treatment is required over the long term (as for any other chronic condition).

Nearly half of the people who take weight management medication experience one or more GI side effects. Gastrointestinal symptoms — nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation — are by far the most common.

Some medication may have an interaction with antidepressants or other mood stabilisers, and may require additional monitoring.

If side effects of weight loss medication occur, patients will often be advised to cease the treatment.

Your surgeon will discuss all risks and possible side effects with you.