Weight management services

Weight management

Managing your weight within a healthy range can reduce your risk of developing health conditions. Obesity is associated with conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

Weight management services are offered by accredited practising dietitians, GPs, commercial weight loss programs, meal replacement programs (very low energy diets) and kilojoule-controlled meal programs.

If you are aiming to lose weight, choose your weight management service with care. Some commercial weight loss programs offer safe weight management and lifestyle suggestions to their clients. Others may rely on unproven or unhealthy methods.

Aiming for weight loss may not be feasible for you at this time. Ensure to consult a healthcare professional when the time is right for you. Receiving professional assistance for behaviour change can help you successfully achieve your goals.

For information about gaining weight, visit Better Health Channel’s weight and muscle gain fact sheet.

Talk to your GP about weight management services

Your GP knows your medical history and can either discuss suitable weight loss strategies or recommend an accredited practising dietitian.

It’s important to speak with your GP before starting any weight loss program. This is especially important if you take any form of prescription medicine or if you have a pre-existing condition, such as:

• obesity
• all types of diabetes including type 1, type 2 and gestational
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• kidney conditions
• liver conditions
• food allergies
• digestive system disorders such as coeliac disease
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• heart conditions, angina or cardiac arrhythmia
• an eating disorder (or a history of disordered eating)
• cancer
• epilepsy
• thyroid conditions
• depression
• gall bladder problems such as gallstones
• gout.

Advice about weight management services

Your GP or an industry body such as Dietitians Australia [ can help you make a safe choice when choosing a weight management support service.

Dietitians Australia is the national association for dietitians, with branches in every state and territory. Standards of practice are contained in the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program.

Choosing a dietitian

Accredited practising dietitians are recognised professionals who can provide expert nutrition and dietary advice. Dietitians can guide you to sound food and health information that is specific to your individual needs.

You can contact a dietitian in various ways, including:

• Your GP may recommend and refer you to a suitable dietitian.
• Your council can provide a list of local dietitians.
• There may be a dietitian based at your local community health service.
• You can use Dietitians Australia’s ‘Find an Accredited Practising Dietitian’ search function.

Choosing a reputable weight management service

Generally speaking, a good weight management service will:

• Aim to improve overall health, such as lowering blood cholesterol, and reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Encourage a balanced approach to eating, including foods from all of the core food groups and in appropriate portion sizes.
• Cater to your individual requirements.
• Focus on decreasing body fat (for example, waist measurement), not just total body weight.
• Include regular exercise and physical activity, most days of the week.
• Advise against a daily energy intake of less than 5,000 kJ (or 1,200 calories per day).
• Recommend a gradual weight loss of around one to 4 kilograms a month to begin with, and aim for 10 to 20% loss of total body weight in the longer term (if required).
• Welcome input from your GP or healthcare professional.
• Advise on how to improve long-term eating and exercise habits.
• Offer ongoing support with your weight management, even when you have achieved your target weight.
• Offer details on all fees and costs of additional items.
• Give clear information on the refund policy.

Weight management services to avoid

Don't use a weight management service that advises you to:

• Cut out one or more of the major food groups.
• Replace food with powders or supplements.
• Encourage short-term changes to eating behaviours, rather than longer-term, sustainable changes.
• Use unproven or unsafe equipment such as saunas, passive exercise machines, diuretics and body wraps.
• Focus on rapid weight loss, but doesn't include any guidance on how to maintain a healthy weight in the long term.
• Sign up without being clear about all fees and costs of additional items.
• Sign up without offering you clear information about their refund policy.
• Consult with social media sites for weight management and health advice.

If you decide to start a very low energy diet (VLED) using meal replacement shakes, bars or soups, consult a dietitian to make sure you:

• Are still meeting all your nutritional requirements.
• Have ongoing support to continue the program.
• Have access to advice for returning to your regular eating pattern to minimise significant weight regain.

Choosing a kilojoule-controlled meal service

When choosing a home-delivered meal service, make sure that the service offers:

• A written health warning about the dangers of rapid weight loss, including the suggestion to consult with your doctor.
• Detailed written information on the services offered, including delivery arrangements and the nutritional value of the meals.
• Clear information on all costs, including delivery charges.
• The option to cancel after 5 days, including a pro rata refund.

Making a complaint about a weight management service

If you are unhappy with a weight management service, make a complaint to the company. If you are unsatisfied with the response or outcome, you can take the complaint further.

Depending on the weight management service chosen, you could contact:

• Consumer Affairs Victoria – this is a government body that can also advise about such complaints.
• Dietitians Australia – regarding complaints about accredited practising dietitians.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Dietitian
• Community health centre
• Dietitians Australia Tel. 1800 812 942
• Diabetes Victoria Tel. 1300 437 386
• Life! Helping you prevent diabetes, heart disease and stroke Tel. 13 74 75
• Consumer Affairs VictoriaTel. 1300 558 181