Unfortunately it’s not always easy to lose unwanted weight, especially as we age, and especially for women. Weight loss can be exceptionally difficult, especially around menopause or if you have nutritional deficiencies due to restrictive diets. Metabolic downturn can lower oestrogen, decreasing your metabolic rate, reducing your muscle mass.
If changing your diet and exercising hasn’t helped you lose weight and you’ve tried everything else, you may need some extra help in the way of weight management medication.
Weight management medication isn’t a ‘quick fix’. It’s designed to work in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, changes to your diet and exercise routine, to help you lose weight.
Weight management medicine has been around for a long time, but it has come a long way in the past 10 years. Today, weight management medications are more effective and safer, with less side effects.
Medications are available in the form of injections or tablets and can be used in the short-term or over a longer period of time. Medications work in a variety of ways, including appetite suppression, reduction of hunger signals, increased sensation of ‘feeling full’, alteration of metabolic pathways involving the pancreas and regulation of insulin and blood sugars.
You should always seek professional advice to determine if weight management medication is for you. Our Grace Private Specialist Women’s Health GP Dr Elise Turner can guide you in the right direction and decide if weight management medication is right for you as an individual.
At our Ferry Road practice, Dr Turner provides a warm and non-judgmental environment for women seeking advice about weight management. While medication is not always the answer, Dr Turner can provide advice on lifestyle changes and guide you to make a decision that is right for your body and lifestyle.
The rate of obesity in Australia continues to rise and according to a National Health Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of statistics, about 67% of Australians are overweight or obese.
Obesity increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, high blood pressure, psychological issues, sleep apnoea, and some musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr Turner may also recommend you seek additional help from Grace’s in-house dietitian and physiotherapist, who can help support long-term lifestyle changes that will ensure your weight stays under control.
Our dietitian, Sharnie Dwyer can help with weight management and body composition management. She will share meal planning and shopping tips, quick recipes as well as other helpful information to help you manage your weight.
Our women’s health physiotherapists Debra Miller and Elle Pidgeon can also recommend exercises to help with weight management. You’ll leave feeling empowered and knowledgeable and be able to carry out your exercise routine.
If you’d like to speak with someone about weight management, our Grace Private team is here to help. To request an appointment, phone 07 5594 7632 or fill out our online form.
