Weight Loss
Weight Loss Medication
With Simple Online Doctor, our Australian registered doctor can assess whether treatment for weight loss is suitable for you. Simply fill out an assessment and our doctor will evaluate your suitability for treatment. If approved, the doctor will pass a prescription to our pharmacy team, who will fill the prescription and dispatch your medicine to your delivery address.
All medicines sourced by the pharmacy are from Australian wholesalers, who are fully licensed in Australia, so you can be confident that you are receiving genuine medication.
Causes
A simplified look at the cause of obesity is when you may eat too much and don't get enough exercise to use up the calories you've taken in. Surplus energy taken on by the body, will be stored by as fat, resulting in obesity.
Calories
The energy value of food is measured in calories. The average intakes of calories are Active man - 2,500 calories / day to maintain a healthy weight Active woman - 2,000 calories / day.
Poor diet
Obesity usually gradually occurs over time, as a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices, such as:
- Large amounts of processed or fast food – high in fat and sugar
- Too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories
- Eating larger portions than you need – you may be encouraged to eat too much if your friends or relatives are also eating large portions
- Sugary drinks – including soft drinks and fruit juice, which have extremely high sugar content
- Comfort eating
Lack of Exercise
Not getting enough physical activity is another important factor related to obesity. Office jobs that involve sitting at a desk for most of the day can mean you don't get much exercise. Reliance on your car to get around, can also reduce the amount of time you may spend walking and getting some exercise. The Department of Health recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. This might include cycling or a fast walk, every week. This exercise can be broken down into smaller periods, such as 20 minutes a day. If you're already obese and trying to lose weight, you may need to do more exercise than this. It can be helpful to start off slowly, and increase the amount of exercise you do each week.
Genetics
There are some rare genetic conditions that can cause obesity, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, however most people should be able to lose wight with proper diet and exercise. Certain genetic traits inherited from your parents – such as having a large appetite – may make losing weight more difficult, but with some effort, you can change your habits in order to help you lose weight. Medical reasons Underlying medical conditions may contribute to weight gain. These include:
- Underactive thyroid
- Cushing's syndrome
If conditions such as these are diagnosed, your doctor should be able to assist you, and they should not pose a large barrier to weight loss. Weight gain can also sometimes be a side effect of stopping smoking.
Treatments
The best way to lose weight is by improving your diet, and getting more exercise. However if you have tried this, and continue to struggle with weight, there are options available to help you along.
A balanced diet and exercise programme should be started before beginning treatment with weight loss medication, and you should continue this programme during treatment and after you stop using a weight loss aid.
Symptoms
BMI guidelines for most adults are:
- 18.5 to 24.9 > healthy weight
- 25 to 29.9 > overweight
- 30 to 39.9 > obese
- 40 or above > severely obese
BMI isn't used to definitively diagnose obesity, since some people can have a high BMI due to being very muscular, but for most people, it gives a good indication of whether or not you are a healthy weight. You can calculate BMI by using a BMI Calculator.
