Obesity treatment in Australia is undergoing new exciting changes in multi disciplinary management
Some options are listed below
Medications
- Easy to access, minimal downtime, effective for 5% average total weight loss.
- Require ongoing use; weight often returns after stopping.
- Less cost effective in the long term
Surgery
- Gold standard for severe obesity.
- Long-term outcomes: ~30% body weight loss at 4 years; >70% with type 2 diabetes off insulin after 1 year.
- Safe: most patients spend only one night in hospital.
- 179,000+ procedures tracked with consistent results on the BSR
Trends
- Broader eligibility since 2022 BMI guideline updates.
- Sleeve Gastrectomy most common; Mini Gastric Bypass increasing.
- Newer endoscopic options emerging.
Care Pathway
- All patients need proper assessment: bloods, diabetes screening, nutrition, psychological review.
- At Newcastle Weight Loss Surgery: team-based pre- and post-operative care for long-term success.
Bottom Line
Both medication and surgery play vital roles. Medications suit some; surgery offers durable, life-changing results for others. The right choice depends on individual needs and specialist guidance.
