A healthier approach to weight management
Supporting lasting health through sustainable lifestyle change.
Obesity management framework
The World Health Organisation recognises obesity as a chronic condition requiring long-term, integrated care and has developed a framework for managing the disease.
Lifestyle and behaviour management
Nutrition, behavioural therapy and exercise.
Lifestyle factors are the basis for managing your weight and preventing obesity.
Holistic lifestyle support includes:
- Nutrition counselling from a registered dietitian
- Increased physical activity
- Behaviour change support
These interventions are the cornerstone of all weight management approaches.
Pharmacotherapy
Anti-obesity medications, including oral and injectable treatments.
Medicine may be appropriate for some people who meet the diagnostic criteria for obesity or who are overweight with obesity-related co-morbidities. A qualified healthcare professional must decide whether medicine would benefit you, based on an individual clinical assessment.
Anti-obesity medicine is recommended alongside nutrition, physical activity and behavioural interventions. It should not replace them.
Surgery
Gastric bands and bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, etc.
Bariatric surgery is an effective and evidence-based treatment for severe obesity and related complications.
It is not a first-line intervention and should be considered for certain patients only as part of comprehensive, long-term care that includes nutrition, physical activity and medical consultations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Adult obesity facts and strategies.
Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/
Chao, A. M., Jastreboff, A. M., White, M. A., Grilo, C. M., & Sinha, R. (2017). Stress, cortisol, and other appetite-related hormones: Prospective prediction of 6-month changes in food cravings and weight. Obesity, 25(4), 713-720.
https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21790
Discovery Ltd. (n.d.). A data-led blueprint for better health: Sleep research paper.
Available at: https://www.discovery.co.za/assets/template-resources/vitality/sleep-research-paper.pdf
World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). New WHO framework available for prevention and management of obesity.
Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2023-new-WHO-framework-available-for-prevention-and-management-of-obesity