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In short:  The cost of weight loss drug Wegovy will soon be massively subsidised for Australians with severe obesity who have had a stroke or heart attack. Currently, more than 400,000 Australians are paying as much as $5,000 a year for Ozempic-like GLP-1 medications. What's next? Health Minister Mark Butler said the change would result in a "very big bill for taxpayers," but he did not clarify exactly how much. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-12/wegovy-to-be-added-to-pbs

If you’ve tried to lose weight before and regained it, you’re not alone. Most people struggle not because they lack willpower, but because they’ve never had access to medical, evidence-based care  that targets the true  drivers of weight gain. Perth Weight Clinic is a medical weight-loss clinic in Perth , led by Dr Mark Mellor , a Specialist GP with advanced training in obesity and metabolic health. We provide long, thorough consultations, advanced metabolic testing and perso

When it comes to managing adiposity-based chronic disease, I have found that a one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition simply does not work. Each person’s body, lifestyle, and health challenges are unique. This is why tailored dietary planning is so important. It allows us to create a nutrition plan that fits your individual needs, preferences, and medical conditions. By focusing on what works best for you, we can support your journey toward lasting health and wellbeing. Per

Since 1948 the universally accepted definition of obesity was a condition of excess adiposity that presents a riusk to health. Unfortunately, this definition always assumes obesity is a risk factor and not a disease itself. The biology of obesity is complex and some people living with obesity have a systemic illness due to their obesity alone. This is known as clinical obesity. Read more about this new approach to defining and diagnosing obesity in my article published in Mar

GPs are incentivisied by Medicare to provide short consultations. The Medicare rebate gets progressively lower for longer consultations which many people with complex medical problems such as obesity need. Unfortunately, the latest Medicare funding announcement from the federal health minister, Mark Butler, does not recognise this need... https://mforum.com.au/access-to-gps-and-better-education-key-to-improving-obesity-outcomes/

Supermarkets promote unhealthy food much more than healthy food. This adds to the obesogenic environment making it more challenging for people to access healthier foods. https://mforum.com.au/unhealthy-food-promotions-fuelling-obesity-in-wa/

Whilst it might be tempting to access weight loss medication from a Telehealth-only provider for easy access, some are not doing due diligence to ensure appropriate and safe prescribing. It’s always better to have a comprehensive in-person consultation for weight management. Safe and effective care is more than ticking a box and a prescription. https://apple.news/AI4N7Z-TsQMG9DZLO3o0Acg

This recent journal article published in JAMA shows that BMI afterall is a very good approximation of excess adiposity (obesity). This is despite a recent global expert commission advising to move away from this BMI as a measure of obesity given it does not take into account distribution of body fat (visceral fat is more harmful) or differentiate fat from other tissues. Aryee EK, Zhang S, Selvin E, Fang M. Prevalence of Obesity With and Without Confirmation of Excess Adiposit

A consensus statement was recently published (USA) about the priorities for good nutrition in people using GLP-1 medication. The statement highlights the key elements of good nutrition and the need for dietary support from healthcare practitioners with expertise and experience in managing GLP-1 therapies.