Weight Loss Program
Weight Loss Program Australia
With Simple Online Doctor's weight loss program, you can consult a doctor regarding eligibility for one of the weight loss treatments as part of our health professional guided weight loss program. Complete an online assessment and brief consultation with our doctors who will evaluate your suitability for the medicine and program. If approved a prescription will be issued and provided to our pharmacy team who will dispatch your medicine to your given address. If repeat supplies are appropriate for you, they will be prescribed and saved on your account.
If you are not suitable for the program and treatment for any reason, you will be contacted and fully refunded. No prescription or consultation fees will be taken.
Overview
What are the benefits of weight loss?
A 5% decrease in body weight has been clinically proven to have dramatic effects on your overall health. It can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, self-esteem, sexual function and heartburn. It also greatly decreases your risk of type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea, certain cancers, heart attacks and strokes.
What are the treatments for weight loss?
Due to Australian law, we are unable to disclose the names of the weight loss treatments before the assessment is completed. The treatments are prescription-only weight loss medications and are thus evaluated and registered for supporting weight loss in conjunction with diet and exercise.
Who can use a weight reset program?
Weight loss treatments in Australia can only be prescribed to those with a high BMI or those with a moderate BMI with a weight-related health issue such as pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea.
Some health conditions or medicines may make the program not suitable for you. For these people, our doctors will assist by referring you to your GP for further discussion.
How does the program for weight loss work?
Alongside diet and exercise, the doctor may recommend the use of medicines. The medications belong to a group of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These work by mimicking a natural hormone in the body that regulates how hungry you feel. By acting like this hormone, it decreases your hunger and works as an appetite suppressant. This makes you satisfied with smaller meals leading to a reduced-calorie diet.
As with all weight management medicines, they are there to support long-term reductions in body weight in conjunction with a balanced diet and physical activity. Weight loss is a journey and in the end, our goal is to ultimately see you lose weight and eventually leave our program. Our success is measured by how many patients we can see leave with healthier weights and the ability to keep their weight off with a new and healthier lifestyle.
How much weight will I lose?
Weight loss will vary from person to person and will differ between prescribed programs. In clinical trials the weight loss program treatments have shown to benefit 95% of people in losing 5% or more of their body weight after the treatment time. These results were achieved when the medication was combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. The results will vary based on the treatment prescribed.
The results of one of the weight loss medications:
- 96% of trial patients lost 5% or more weight
- 90% of trial patients lost 10% or more weight
- 78% of trial patients lost 15% or more weight
- 62% of trial patients lost 20% or more weight
- 39% of trial patients lost 25% or more weight
*Weight loss will vary based on each individual and their response to the program prescribed by the doctor.
The graph above is the results between placebo patients (diet and exercise) in comparison to those on treatment adjunct to diet and exercise, at a 72 week treatment period.
What do I get on the weight loss program?
Our doctors will assess and review your health information to ensure you are suitable for treatment. If you are, your journey begins with our health team providing you with the information you need for success.
You will be registered with the support program as well as our own and provided additional resources. Our health team is with you along the way providing support, follow-ups and a point of contact if you have any questions. Our team of health professionals work collaboratively to ensure we provide the best possible care for our patients based on the clinical evidence.
Will we force lifestyle changes on you?
No, we are here to support healthy lifestyle changes by providing you with all the resources and communication you need for your journey, but we will not force you to engage with the additional resources. Your weight loss journey is personal, some will love the additional support we provide and some will charge ahead on their own, it’s always up to you.
Additional weight loss support
One-on-one dietitian appointments with our accredited practicing dietitians are available alongside our weight loss program. Although not included in the program at this time, it is recommended to those wanting additional support beyond the included manufacturer support program.
Find out more about Dietitian Appointments
Are weight loss medicines safe?
Like all medicines, there is the potential for the treatment to cause some side effects. These occur mostly during the 4 week period when the dose is being increased slowly to the maintenance dose. They are mostly mild and usually resolve with continued use. You will be provided information on how to avoid these as part of the program.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headaches, diarrhoea or constipation.
You will be provided with lots of information and access to support upon starting our weight loss program.
Resources
Weight Loss and Improvement in Comorbidity: Differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and Over - PMC (nih.gov)
Medicine Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity | New England Journal of Medicine (nejm.org)
