NEW health campaign 'Doctor on Your Side' is being rolled out in NSW, Western Australia and Queensland this month to encourage overweight and obese Australians to talk about weight loss options with their doctors.
The campaign suggests a doctor knows the patient's history and would be able to offer an evidence-based approach to weight loss, rather than fad diets and gimmicks.
Roughly half of Australians are classed as overweight, which is calculated by looking at individuals' body mass index, a ratio between height and weight.
Doctor Michael Panetta, of the Windsor Road Medical Centre, said traditionally obesity was looked at as a risk factor but it is now considered a disease.
"We now have a better understanding of metabolism and know that long-term obesity contributes to lower quality of life, interferes with social and career opportunities, decreases life expectancy and has ramifications like increased risk of cancer and diabetes," the Seven Hills resident said.
"GPs are trained not to be judgmental.
"We now have a better understanding of metabolism and know that long-term obesity contributes to lower quality of life, interferes with social and career opportunities, decreases life expectancy and has ramifications like increased risk of cancer and diabetes"
- Dr Michael Panetta
"We also know how the disease operates with other health problems and we can look at the patient as a whole to provide assistance for weight loss beyond just telling them to go home and lose weight."
Emu Plains doctor Firas Jerew — a member of the GP Weight Loss Alliance in NSW — said people often get "fed up" with following diets.
"Contacting a professional is a lot more helpful than following online diets that tell you to stop eating everything," the Parramatta resident said.
"The first thing to do is recognise the problem, have the conversation with your doctor and have a willingness to do something about it."
The campaign's website has weight assessment tools like a BMI calculator, information about waist circumference and a quiz that indicates if someone is ready to lose weight or not.
■ Details: http://doctoronyourside.com.au.