When it comes to weight loss, there’s a common belief that medication is a ‘shortcut’ that if you were really trying, you’d be able to do it with diet and exercise alone. But is this fair?
Our General Practitioner, Dr David Sutcliffe, challenges this mindset: “We give a person blood pressure medication when they’re suffering from high blood pressure not controlled by diet and lifestyle alone, so why should we view weight loss any differently?
The Science of Weight Loss: More Than Just Willpower
Weight management is complex. While diet and exercise are essential components of a healthy lifestyle, they don’t always lead to significant and sustained weight loss especially for those who struggle with obesity or metabolic conditions.
Genetics, hormones, medical conditions, and even past dieting history all play a role in how the body regulates weight. For many, especially the higher a patient’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough, no matter how much effort they put in. That’s where medical support, including weight loss medications, can help.
What are the Health Benefits of Weight Loss
The goal of weight management is not about aesthetics, it’s about overall health and wellbeing. Losing just 5-10% of body weight can:
- Reduce diabetes risk by up to 90%
- Lower the risk of certain cancers, such as breast cancer, by 12%
- Reduce blood pressure
- Reduce inflammation and pressure on joints
- Improve fertility
Weight Loss Medication: A Tool, Not a Shortcut
Weight loss medications are not a shortcut, they are a tool to support your overall health journey. These medications can help regulate appetite, improve metabolism, and address biological factors that make weight loss more difficult.
Dr David Sutcliffe says:
“Would you feel guilty about taking a blood pressure medication if you had high blood pressure? The health benefits of losing weight are important, just like the health benefits of reducing your blood pressure. Both require first line management of diet and exercise. However, if that doesn’t work, moving into medication for heart health is common practice but the stigma attached to obesity medications has meant obesity often isn’t treated effectively.”
How Dr David Sutcliffe Supports Your Weight Loss Journey
At Soleil Health, Dr David Sutcliffe takes a compassionate, evidence based approach to weight management. During your initial consultation, he will take the time to understand your unique health story, including your weight loss journey so far, medical history, and any co-existing health conditions that could be contributing to weight gain.
This may include:
- Measuring height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference
- Reviewing previous weight loss attempts
- Assessing co-morbidities such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Ordering blood tests to check for underlying medical causes (if not recently completed)
Through this, a tailored plan is created one that considers lifestyle changes, referrals to allied health professionals like dietitians and exercise physiologists, further testing using ECAL to tailor your diet to improve how you burn carbohydrates and fats and consideration of and whether medication might be an appropriate option now or in the future.
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Weight loss is not simply a matter of willpower, it is about understanding the body’s complex biology. If you’ve tried everything and are still struggling, there are supportive, evidence-based options available.
If you would like help with your weight loss journey, book a consultation with Dr David Sutcliffe at Soleil Health Medical Centre. Together, you can create an individualised plan that works for you without guilt, stigma, or the idea that you’re ‘cheating.’
