Weight loss help for those with weight-related medical conditions

Here we look at some new and alternative strategies to help people lose weight when their weight has become a major health issue. These are non-surgical medical options, such as new drugs, support groups and dieticians.

The search for solutions to losing weight and keeping it off are never ending. Not surprising really, as the statistics of overweight adults and children in Australia and around the world have been on the rise for several years.

Excess weight and obesity are linked to many life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, some forms of cancer, gallbladder disease and gallstones, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and breathing problems such as sleep apnoea.

If excess weight or weight gain is severely threatening your health, just being told to “eat less and do more exercise” is probably not much help.

The thing that all successful weight loss strategies have in common is that you need to keep at them and ideally be supported in your journey. ‘Quick fix’ approaches will only succeed if you implement long-term changes to your eating to keep the weight off after you’ve lost it. Finding something that works for you and then being able to stick to it long term is the only real recipe for success. Can you see yourself having weight loss shakes for 365 days in a row? Probably not, so you need a Plan B.

DRUGS

All of the drugs mentioned below need to be combined with a healthy diet and exercise plan to be effective. This article is for information purposes only, and you should consult your General Practitioner or other health care professional before deciding if any are right for you. All drugs have potential side effects.

Saxenda

A reasonably new drug on the market, Saxenda, aims to emulate lap band surgery by making a person feel fuller and less hungry. It needs to be administered and supervised by a doctor. Patients inject themselves under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in the stomach, upper leg or arm once per day. Saxenda is usually only prescribed for patients who have weightrelated medical problems or obesity. The drug also has a high cost – approximately $370-$400 per month – but it is only a fraction of the cost of weight loss surgery and comes without all the inherent risks. Your Extras will cover some of the cost under medical prescriptions, but you will quickly reach your limits if you start using it every month, which is required to be successful

Xenical

Originally only available on prescription, this drug is now available over the counter at pharmacies. It works by blocking approximately 30 per cent of fat absorption of the food you eat, which is removed via the bowels. Some people find taking it three times per day, with meals, is the best option, whereas others have achieved success by only taking it with one or two meals per day.

Although this is an over the counter medicine from pharmacists, you should first consult your doctor to find out if this drug is suitable for you, and how to use it. The pharmacist may also require information such as your weight, height and other relevant information before supplying you with Xenical.

This is also on the pricey side, so shop around different chemists to get the best deal. There is also a less-expensive generic version. (Prices vary between $55 and $85 for a two-week supply; and between $95 and $130 for a four-week supply). As this does not require a medical prescription, it is NOT claimable via health fund Extras.

Metformin

This drug is normally only available to diabetics and is commonly prescribed for overweight people with type 2 diabetes. But if you are overweight or obese you can ask your doctor about it. You will need to take a special fasting blood test, and depending on the results, reliant on blood sugar levels and other factors determined by your GP, you may be a candidate for Metformin. The drug has been proven to not cause weight gain in diabetics and to help with weight loss. Metformin is reasonably inexpensive compared with Saxenda and Xenical and you may qualify to claim some of the costs from your Extras cover for medical prescriptions if the cost is more than $41.30.

DIETICIANS

Seeing a dietician on a regular basis can be a great weight loss strategy. You can also claim using your Extras cover and in most cases the practitioner will be using HICAPS, so you will only pay the gap. Even if you use all your dietetics health fund benefits for the year, your GP may be able to place you on a Medicare Care Plan, which will give you an extra five to 10 visits for a fixed low cost or for free.

A good dietician can help on a number of levels. Firstly they can assess what type of eater you are and what type of food plan will work best for you. Then they offer regular, ongoing support while you continue to see them. They can also help you set realistic exercise goals. If you’ve been sedentary for the past 20 years, they won’t tell you to run a marathon; upping your steps will probably be sufficient at the start.

You might find you need weekly appointments in the first instance, and then possibly cut down to once a fortnight or even monthly, once you start to achieve your health and weight loss goals. Telehealth for allied health professionals, which was introduced due to Covid-19, is ongoing and you are still able to claim if you consult a dietician via computer or telephone.

To find an accredited dietician in your area, go to the website of Dieticians Australia www.dietitiansaustralia.org.au

Support groups – free to attend

There are some excellent, not-for-profit support groups to assist if you think you have a problem with overeating or food addiction. These groups hold regular meetings of approximately one hour where members are supported by others in their recovery journey. Most people come looking for weight loss but often find they have other issues that caused their eating problems. You can find a list of meetings on their websites. To join one of these meetings simply turn up.

A majority of meetings are currently held online via Zoom, due to Covid-19 restrictions, although some have gone back to face-to-face meetings or a combination of both. These programs are based on the extremely successful 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, tailored to food, overeating and food addiction issues rather than problems with alcohol. As the name implies, these meetings are anonymous, and you will only be asked for your first name so the rest of the group can welcome you.

Overeaters Anonymous www.oasydney.org

Food Addicts Anonymous www.foodaddictsanonymous.org

DISCLAIMER: This wellbeing message is brought to you by the health and wellbeing team at rt health – a division of the Hospitals Contribution Fund. The health information provided here is intended to be informative only and should be carefully evaluated for its source, accuracy, completeness and relevance for your purposes. It is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Always obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.