• Weight Loss Clinic - South East Specialist Suites

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SERVICE IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE

WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC

South East Specialist Suites, SEQ

About The Clinic

Our Doctor is a dual qualified Physician (MRCP UK) & Specialist GP (FRACGP) and has a long-established interest in weight loss medicine.

In some ways, weight loss is the easy bit. The challenge is keeping it off. The clinic focuses on evidence-based practice founded on the Science of Weight loss. Treatment is tailored to you as an individual.

We put you in charge of your appointments with Full Online Booking – including follow up appointments.

The following appointment intervals give you an idea what to expect:

  • An Initial appointment with our Physician Our Doctor.
  • A further appointment with The Doctor after 4 weeks.
  • Subsequent appointments are typically at 2 monthly intervals. Appointments may be scheduled at any time in-between depending on your needs.

Check our FAQ for more details.

  • We do not currently have the capacity to see new patients and apologise for the inconvenience.
  • We apologise for the inconvenience at this time.

THE SCIENCE OF WEIGHT LOSS

Why do I find it difficult to lose weight?

Hey, this is normal! Let’s start with some truths.

  • ‘Healthy eating choices’ is nothing but a sound bite. We don’t chose to be overweight. Automatic actions are wired into our brain. Conscious choices require effort that is simply not sustainable 100% of the time.
  • High calories Foods surround us.  Just  look at the ‘Supermarket Specials’ with their discounts for large quantities. Increased weight can feel like a battle where the ‘two sides’ are the brain-gut interface, and the ‘obesogenic environment.’
  • The environment requires less physical activity than than in the past. Cars, lifts & gadgets reduce the need for us to be moving.

Genes play an important role in a whole host of different factors – our metabolic rate, how much we fidget, how much energy we use to control our posture, and how we respond to different diets. Our genes have evolved to prevent weight loss, not to prevent weight gain.

Hormones play a key role in regulating metabolism and hunger.  These hormones act like a thermostat – except that we have little control over the setting. In this way, the body ‘remembers’ what its Basal metabolic rate ‘should be.’ This ‘metabolic memory’ may even start before we are born, and explains why our body wants to ‘be’ at a certain weight.

Let’s get into the science.

How our body ‘wants’ us to regain the weight we have lost

Weight loss Science isn’t Sexy but it is empowering.

The metabolic rate of people who have lost a lot of weight is around 500 calories lower than their baseline – even many years later.

The metabolic rate drops around 100-200 calories more than is explained by the lower body weight. Why is this?

Fat cells send the hormone ‘Leptin’ to the brain. Leptin increases energy expenditure. Weight Loss results in lower leptin levels which reduces our metabolic rate. Ouch.

Let’s check out the really important gut hormones that also send messages to the hypothalamus in the gase of the brain:

  • Ghrelin – produced by the stomach and makes us feel hungry. Levels increase after weight loss.
  • CCK, Peptide YY, GLP-1, PP, all hormones make us feel full. Levels reduce after weight loss. Leptin also goes down after weight loss.

Weight loss through diets will lower your metabolic rate and increase your drive to eat.

Weight and Our Brain

Cravings are the elephant in the room when it comes to weight loss. Food cravings are a ‘conditioned response’ to a situation. Chocolate is the most common craving. If you always eat chocolate when you watch a movie then your cravings will increase when you put on a flick. Perhaps you crave a snack in the middle of the afternoon? The trigger for mid-afternoon cravings is usually work.

Try to identify your triggers for ‘automatic eating’ – perhaps fatigue, bordeom, or stress. You can then put in some strategies to over-ride our instinctive behaviours.

What happens if you try to resist a craving and eventually give in to it? You’ll feel a sense of failure that in turn increases the cravings! Don’t beat yourself up if you ‘give in’ to your cravings sometimes. Overall, however, you should simply try to cut out that food that you crave for. Use mindfulness techniques & try to ride the wave of the craving. Cravings do go within around 30 minutes.  A useful rule of thumb is that it takes around two months of conscious effort for the cravings to pretty much disappear. Keep your partner on board and tell him or her not to buy you that food again!

There are important Psychological issues that affect us all:

  • We tend to make choices that sort out the current situation (relieve of hunger) than help the long term issues (our weight).
  • We all tend to make the same choices we’ve made in the past: the so-called status quo bias. Make consistently different choices than we’ve made in the past takes gets easier with time

Long term weight loss is possible. It helps, though, to be aware of the multiple factors that make sustained weight loss so challenging – so that you can develop helpful long term strategies and make informed choices.

The end result is that weight is like an elastic band. Efforts to reduce weight are often very difficult to maintain over time so that the weight springs back up (again).

What should be my target weight?

You should:

  • Aim for sustained weight loss. The health benefits of a 5 to 10% loss of weight are considerable.
  • Set a realistic goal eg. 5 to 10% weight loss.
  • Aim for a reduction of 0.5 to 1Kg per week.

Major Medical Guidelines regard a 5% weight loss as successful.

Many clients will lose, say, 15Kg or more but the priority is to keep the weight off.

There is no doubt at all that weight reduction methods have to be sustained over many years.

What non-medical options are there?

Most clients have tried to lose weight many times. Each time you regain weight you reinforce the notion that you are a failure. This is simply not correct but you are up against hundreds of millions of years of evolution.

The main non-medical options (which may be combined) include:

  • Regular physical activity – of course very important but not enough on its own. Physical activity is very important to stop weight regain.
  • Diets – lots will make promises, research doesn’t come down heavily on one being better than another. Consider, however, the proven health benefits from eating a Mediterranean-type diet.
  • The very low energy diet is described later on.

The occasional client sustains very significant weight loss with a particular type of diet. These experiences are not reproducible. In other words, what works for one person may not work for another.

It’s important for people to feel supported in their attempts to lose weight through physical activity and dietary changes.

Any dietary tips for weight loss?

The truth is that no particular diet program is superior to another for weight loss or weight maintenance. Evidence from scientific studies support the following:

  • Look at portions & proportions. Some people prefer to leave their plate empty even if they are already full.
  • Use a smaller plate size. Studies show that the same amount on a smaller plate looks bigger.
  • Consider increasing the proportion of vegetables relative to grain & protein foods.
  • Cut out Sugary Drinks – evidence from three trials shows that this change results significant weight loss
  • Drink 500mls of water half an hour before a meal has been proven to help with weight loss.³
  • Be aware that fruit drinks usually contain a high amount of calories.

Extreme diets such as liver detox and juicing have minimal to no scientific evidence. Having said that, do whatever you need to do to restrict calories in a sustainable healthy way.

What are the medical options for weight loss?

Medical options for weight loss are growing.

The most intensive medical options are:

  • Very low Energy Diet (VLED)
  • Medication
  • Bariatric Surgery

What is a Very Low Energy Diet?

weight loss caption

A Very low energy diet (VLED) is a diet with less than 800 kCal per day. Optifast is the best known in Australia and is provided in a “kit form” – as shakes and soups for example. The first phase lasts up to 12 weeks and typically includes 3 meal replacements per day, at least 2 low-starch vegetables, 1 tablespoon of oil, and 2L of water.

A VLED works because it induces a state of “ketosis” that in itself reduces appetite. After a few days, the chances are you won’t feel hungry although there may be side effects such as fatigue, dizziness & menstrual disturbances.

Evidence shows that a VLED leads to a substantial weight loss when supported & monitored by both The GP & dietician.

The big advantage of a VLED compared to a normal ‘diet’ is that the ketosis suppresses appetite. Why? Because ketosis causes an increase in cholecystokinin which is a natural appetite suppressant. Ketosis also suppresses the hunger-hormone ‘ghrelin.’ In effect, ketosis is your friend.

The clinic has its own VLED recipe which is not quite as intense as the 100% VLED whilst still being effective.

Benefits of a VLED

  • Research shows an average 20% weight loss after 3 months when you are properly supported & monitored.
  • Lowers Blood Pressure
  • Improves control of Type 2 diabetes
  • Lowers Cholesterol

Monitoring a VLED

Side effects may include: Fatigue, dizziness, postural Blood Pressure drop, feeling cold, changes in bowel habit, muscle cramps, dry skin, rashes, hair loss. Changes to menstrual cycle. Tireness is understandably the most common side effect.

More severe & less common reactions:

  • Electrolyte disturbances (sodium and Potassium)
  • Abnormal liver function tests.
  • Gout
  • Gallstones
  • Lower bone mineral density

A Very low energy diet (VLED) is not suitable during pregnancy, breast feeding, adolescence, age over 65, recent heart attack &  some rare medical conditions such as porphyria. Also avoid with alcohol or drug abuse. May not be suitable in people with specific psychological problems.

The doctor will check your medical history, perform an appropriate physicam exam including your Blood Pressure, and arrange an ECG & Urine Test when appropriate. Guidelines suggest baseline blood tests that are repeated should the diet continue at 3 months.

What medication is available to help weight loss?

Weight loss medication

Specific medical treatments may supplement lifestyle attempts to loose weight and there are a range of options. What you want to know is which medication leads to the best results. Randomised trials compare the active medication with a placebo. You should add at least 5% body weight reduction with other measures you take.

The additional weight reduction figures – after lifestyle changes – are provided below. The figures are approximate and  don’t take into account your baseline weight or dose variability.

Note that we name the medication class rather than brand names as per google guidelines.

CNS Stimulant: The best-known medication for weight management stimulates the sympathetic nervous system by stimulating Noradrenaline receptors. This class of medication has traditonally been restricted to a 3 month course. The evidence points towards a weight loss of around 3.5Kg compared with placebo. Side effects are dose-related and include  palpitations, insomnia, and headaches.

Antiepileptic + CNS stimulant combination.  The combination of antiepileptic and appetite suppressant is available as a branded tablet in The USA. Two large trials point to a weight reduction of around 9Kg compared to placebo.

The product is not licensed for use in Australia. The author finds it surprising that this medication is not available in the branded form in Australia given its efficacy. The combination may be prescribed in Australia as two separate prescriptions or as the generic molecules that are combined by a specialist compounding pharmacy.

The medication is generally well tolerated at lower doses. Side effects are dose-related and include palpitations, insomnia, pins and needles, dizziness, and cognitive side effects.

GLP1-receptor Antagonist for weight management was introduced in Australia in 2016. The ‘average’ weight loss may be considered to be approximately 6-7Kg compared with placebo. Cost at the full dose is $387 per month. However, lower doses may be effective and significantly reduce the price.The injection is self-administered daily via an injection pen.

Combination of an anti-epileptic and opioid receptor antagonist was introduced in Australia in 2019. Weight reduction compared to placebo is approximately 6Kg. The price is around $240 per month.

‘Biguanides’ have been around a long time to treat type 2 diabetes and polcystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  A study of women with infertility & excess weight showed a loss of BMI of 3% after 6 months, and another study of women with excess weight on anti-psychotic medication² found a weight loss of 4.8% after 3 months. This medication is cheap but not that effective.

Lipase inhibitors: reduces absorption of fat from the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary fat in the gut is therefore not completely broken down – and so remains in the bowel – and ends up in bowel motions. The evidence points to a weight loss of around 3Kg weight loss at 1 year’s treatment. Side effects include oily spotting of the bowel motions, flatulence, loose stools – these are most noticeable after a fatty meal.

Serotonin 2C receptor agonist is available in the USA but not Australia, and is a specific anti-obesity medication that results in a 3.2Kg average weight loss.

What about Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery often results in sustained significant weight loss. There are over 5 Bariatric Surgeons in Brisbane. Out-of-Pocket costs of a gastric sleeve after insurance varies significantly. Typically, the out-of-pocket cost is around the $2500 to $3500 mark in Brisbane though there are some services a little further away that get this down to around the $1500 mark.

The barrier to bariatric surgery are:

  • Concerns over side effects
  • Cost. Some medical insurance companies do not cover bariatric surgery but plenty do – including the option to be covered immediately on joining (ask!).
  • Perhaps a feeling that obesity can be “beaten” without surgery – maybe it can & certainly other options should be pursued.

Weight loss statistics (in general) are not encouraging. A 10 year follow up study of nearly 280,000 people showed “The annual chance of obese patients achieving five per cent weight loss was 1 in 12 for men and 1 in 10 for women. For those people who achieved five per cent weight loss, 53 per cent regained this weight within two years and 78 percent had regained the weight within five years.” However, within these figures some people do manage to maintain weight loss.

There has been quite a lot of publicity over side effects of bariatric surgery. When considering risks, bear in mind also the risk of ongoing severe obesity. The risks of ongoing obesity are usually the back of people’s minds when bariatic surgery is suggested.

The UK NICE guideline on bariatric surgery were updated in 2014 to suggest bariatric surgery be considered for people with

  • BMI 40 or more
  • BMI 35 or more with type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure or other significant conditions

Consider this: The NICE guidelines are funded by the UK government to advice on what the publicly funded national health service should fund in the UK – at a time of major resource limitations. The NICE guidelines suggest bariatric surgery at these thresholds because they have assessed the scientific facts: The risk of ongoing moderate to severe obesity generally outweighs the risk of surgery. This message may be lost at times because the risks of obesity is not something that is “out there” as much as it should be – perhaps because of the sensitivities involved. The Risks of being overweight are wide-ranging.

Without surgery, around 90% of people with obesity eventually regain the weight they’ve lost. The author of this blog is a strong advocate of weight loss surgery.

The risk of ongoing moderate to severe obesity generally outweighs the risk of surgery

What are the health benefits of weight loss?

How do you feel when you stand on the scales waiting for the tiny movements to settle down? A client who loses 15-20Kg does not require a list of medical reasons to lose weight, they just feel better.

The health benefits of weight reduction include:

The cancer risks of a high BMI are perhaps less well known. The lancet published a study into the effects of obesity on 22 different cancer and found that obesity is linked to 17 of them. Some of these links between weight and cancer are strong associations.

References

1: Li Z, Maglione M, Ti W, et al. Meta-analysis: pharmacologic treatment of obesity. Ann Intern Med 2005;142:532–46.Women of reproductive age

2: Nieuwenhuis-Ruifrok AE, Kuchenbecker WK, Hoek A, Middleton P, Norman RJ. Insulin sensitizing drugs for weight loss in women of reproductive age who are overweight or obese: systematic review & metanalysis.

e3  Hlen M. Parretti et al, Efficacy of water preloading before main meals as a strategy for weight loss in primary care patients with obesity: RCT; obesity, 2015

Obesity Treatment, Beyond the GuidelinesPractical Suggestions for Clinical Practice JAMA 2019

5 Modern Pharmacological Treatment of Obese Patients, Therapeutic advances in Endocrine metabolism, 2020

WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC FAQS

Typical out of pocket price (after your medicare rebate) are :

The ‘out of pocket prices’ (after your medicare rebate) are :

    • The 1st physician video consultation:  $101.05
    • Subsequent physician consultations (short) are $46.80

We do not currently have the capacity for video consultations and apologise for the inconvenience.

Medication isn’t the ‘be all or end all’ of weight loss but can certainly help.

The price from a discount pharmacy is typically around $115 per month for a standard appetite suppressant.

However, a combination of appetite suppressants is available through compounding pharmacies at <$100 per month. [/av_toggle] [av_toggle title='What is the appointment schedule' tags='' custom_id='' av_uid='av-2z3lx2']

First Appointment: long (30 mins)

At the first appointment, The doctor will gather relevant information and present to you the medical options for weight loss such as the ones outlined in this blog. The outcome from the first appointment may therefore include:

  • Assessment and Blood Tests,
  • Weight loss prescription
  • or detailed advice regarding VLED such as optifast
  • or referral for bariatric surgery

Second appointment (20-30 mins)

Also a long appointment, 4-6 weeks after the initial appointment.

Subsequent appointments

Review every 8 weeks for a long or short appointment depending on your requirements. Generally a short appointment works well.

You may schedule your appointment using the calendar below, or phone us on 07 3073 3917.

BOOK ONLINE

INFORMATION FOR NEW PATIENTS

  • We do not currently have the capacity to see new patients and apologise for the inconvenience.
  • We apologise for the inconvenience at this time.
WRITTEN BY: Beatty
REVIEWED/UDPATED:
CREATED: