How a Practitioner Decides Which Weight Loss Treatment Is Right for You
No single weight loss treatment is right for everyone. A registered doctor or nurse practitioner looks at your weight, your health, your medicines, what you have tried before and what you want, then agrees a plan with you that always includes a healthy diet and physical activity.
On this page
- The Options on the Table
- How the Decision Is Usually Made
- What the Practitioner Checks First
- The Questions You Are Likely to Be Asked
- How Options Are Weighed
- Your Goals and Preferences Count
- When the Next Step Is Not Medication
- Review: How the Plan Changes Over Time
- A Healthy Diet and Physical Activity in Every Plan
- How Burst Health Approaches the Decision
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Options on the Table
In Australia, treatment for obesity can include a lower-kilojoule diet, more physical activity, weight loss medication and bariatric surgery (healthdirect). A very low energy diet, which replaces meals with formulated meal replacements under medical supervision, is another option for some people.
These options are not rivals. Changes to eating and physical activity are the foundation of treatment, and some people need a combination of treatments to reach their goals (Obesity Evidence Hub). The practitioner's job is to work out which mix fits you now, and when to change it.
How the Decision Is Usually Made
The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm, a 2024 tool that helps GPs with treatment decisions for adults with obesity who are not pregnant, calls for a person-centred, personalised approach with regular monitoring. In practice, the decision can be pictured as four steps:
The order and timing differ from person to person, and outcomes vary between individuals.
What the Practitioner Checks First
The assessment starts with your body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement, and with any weight-related health conditions. The algorithm groups adults by BMI and by whether such conditions are present, then matches the intensity of treatment to each group.
| Your situation (adults) | Where the algorithm starts |
|---|---|
| BMI 30 to 40, no related condition | Supervised diet and activity first |
| BMI 30 to 40, with a related condition | A more intensive option, based on past results |
| BMI over 40, no related condition | A more intensive option, based on past results |
| BMI over 40, with a related condition | Intensive treatment, best in specialist care |
For South Asian, South East Asian, East Asian, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, lower bands apply: BMI 27.5 to 37.5 in place of 30 to 40, and over 37.5 in place of over 40. These bands are general starting points, not a test you pass or fail.
Some conditions respond more than others to weight loss, including type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), low sex hormone levels (hypogonadism) and high blood pressure. If you live with one of these, or with a thyroid condition, read about weight loss treatment with type 2 diabetes, weight loss treatment with PCOS or weight loss treatment and thyroid conditions.
The Questions You Are Likely to Be Asked
Most people have tried to lose weight before, and the choice of treatment is guided by what was tried and how well it worked, so your weight history matters. Eating disorders such as binge eating also affect how well treatment works, and some people may not be ready to make another attempt. Expect questions like these:
What have you tried before, and did anything work? If it did, what happened afterwards?
Have you used weight loss medication before, or had weight loss surgery?
Have you had binge eating or another eating disorder?
Which medicines do you take?
Is now a good time for another attempt, and what might get in the way?
The medicines question matters because certain medicines are among the factors that influence weight (healthdirect). Your current medicines also feed into which options suit you, as the next section explains.
How Options Are Weighed
When medication is part of the plan, a doctor or nurse practitioner talks through these points to help decide which option suits you (healthdirect):
how often you need to take it
how long you may need treatment
the cost
possible side effects
your medical history and how it may affect treatment
your preferences
The first filter is any reason a particular option would not suit you, such as another health condition or a medicine you already take. Cost comes next (Proietto, 2022).
Pregnancy is listed as a reason for caution or avoidance with every weight loss medication approved in Australia, and breastfeeding with most of them (Obesity Evidence Hub). If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, tell the practitioner.
This page does not compare individual medications. That comparison belongs in a consultation, where the practitioner knows your history.
Your Goals and Preferences Count
The algorithm expects your aims to be discussed at the start, so that you and the practitioner agree what success looks like and what each of you expects from treatment. Weight is only one goal: a better diet and more physical activity improve health even without weight loss.
The algorithm gives an indicative weight loss target of 10 to 15% for adults with a BMI of 30 to 40, or over 40 without a weight-related condition, and more than 15% for a BMI over 40 with one. It says these targets are indicative only, that the clinician and the person set a personal target together, and that smaller losses can still bring medical benefits. Outcomes vary between individuals. For what results can look like, see how much weight you can realistically expect to lose.
Your preferences shape the choice as well. You may prefer one option over another because of how often it is taken, its cost, or how you feel about meal replacements or surgery. The choice of medication depends on individual factors and preferences, and responses differ a lot from person to person (Obesity Evidence Hub).
When the Next Step Is Not Medication
A practitioner may decide that weight loss medication is not the right step yet. Where diet and activity come first, as in the first row of the table, medication or a very low energy diet can be added later if weight loss is not enough or weight comes back. The plan may also include tests, or referral to a dietitian, an exercise physiologist or a psychologist.
Surgery sits at the other end. For a BMI of 30 to 40 with a related condition, or over 40 without one, it is an option for people with type 2 diabetes, or whose past treatment with a very low energy diet and medication did not bring enough weight loss. For a BMI over 40 with a related condition, the algorithm says surgery should be recommended, especially where a condition is present that responds to weight loss, or where earlier treatment has not led to sustained weight loss or health improvements. An experienced team weighs its possible benefits against each person's risks.
Review: How the Plan Changes Over Time
The first decision is not the last one. A dose that suits one person can cause intolerable side effects in another, so the recommended approach is to agree on one option, start it, and be ready to change to another if it is not tolerated or is not working (Proietto, 2022). People on treatment should be monitored for side effects and for how they are responding.
Monitoring continues over time, and weight-related conditions are checked again at regular intervals. If weight and health targets are not met, the algorithm's approach is to step treatment up over time, depending on your BMI and health conditions. If progress stalls, read why weight loss can stall or what to do at a weight loss plateau.
A Healthy Diet and Physical Activity in Every Plan
Whichever option is chosen, the algorithm treats supervised lifestyle changes as an essential part of every weight loss strategy, so weight loss medication is used alongside them, not in place of them. The basics stay the same:
a healthy diet built on the five food groups, and plenty of water (Eat for Health)
moderate to vigorous physical activity for 30 minutes or more on most days, and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing)
For practical steps, read a realistic guide to losing weight. For the wider picture of assessment, plans and follow-up, see how medical weight loss programs work.
How Burst Health Approaches the Decision
Burst Health offers telehealth consultations over the phone with Australian-registered doctors and nurse practitioners. You first complete an online questionnaire about your medical history and current health. A doctor or nurse practitioner then calls you to discuss your situation, review whether treatment is clinically appropriate, explain any options and potential side effects, and answer your questions.
The practitioner looks at your BMI, health history and lifestyle factors, and speaks with you before any treatment is provided. Any treatment is provided only where a practitioner considers it suitable for you. Outcomes vary between individuals.
To have that decision made with you, Burst Health provides medical weight loss plans online, with an Australian-registered doctor or nurse practitioner reviewing your health history and goals before any plan is agreed: check whether you are eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which weight loss treatment is right for me?
You cannot know in advance, because the answer depends on an assessment. A doctor or nurse practitioner looks at your BMI, waist, health conditions, medicines and weight history, then talks through your goals and preferences. Together you agree a plan that includes diet and physical activity, with medication, a very low energy diet or surgery added only where clinically appropriate.
Who decides which weight loss treatment I take?
The practitioner decides what is clinically appropriate, and you decide what you are willing to try. Care is meant to be person-centred, and personal targets are set between the practitioner and you. When medication is suitable, the practitioner and you agree on one option, monitor how you respond and switch if it does not suit you.
Is there one best treatment for weight loss?
No. Responses differ a lot between people, so the best option is the one that fits your health, history and preferences. Bariatric surgery is one option, considered mainly for people with a higher BMI, or with type 2 diabetes and obesity, and it carries surgical risks. Diet and physical activity remain part of every plan.
How do you qualify for weight loss medication in Australia?
As a general starting point, medication is a treatment option for adults with a BMI over 30, or a BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related health problem, alongside lifestyle change. Meeting that point does not mean treatment is suitable. A doctor or nurse practitioner checks your health conditions, medicines and history before deciding whether it is clinically appropriate.
Can I talk to my doctor about weight loss treatment options?
Yes. You can raise your weight at any consultation and ask which options suit you. Bring a list of your medicines, your health conditions and what you have tried before. The doctor or nurse practitioner decides whether medication is clinically appropriate, and may suggest a diet and activity plan, tests or a referral first. If you do not understand part of the answer, keep asking questions.
Medical weight loss plans, online
In three steps.
- 1Answer a quick questionnaireOnline, no appointment, no in-person visit.
- 2A practitioner reviews itAn Australian-registered doctor or nurse practitioner decides whether treatment is suitable for you.
- 3Start your planIf treatment is suitable, you start your plan with the practitioner supporting you throughout.
References
healthdirect. Weight-loss medicine (last reviewed March 2026).
Markovic TP et al. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm (July 2024).
Proietto J. Medicines for long-term obesity management. 2022.
Eat for Health (NHMRC). Australian dietary guidelines 1 to 5.
This article is general information only and does not replace individual medical advice. Please speak with a registered Australian healthcare practitioner about your own circumstances.