Knowing what a first appointment involves makes it easier to get value from it — and this is a consultation many people put off for longer than they'd like to admit.
What will happen
A history. Your weight over time, what you've tried, what happened. Other health conditions, current medications, family history. This isn't an audit of past efforts — the pattern is clinically informative, including the parts that didn't work.
Measurements. Weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure. Waist is measured because fat distribution carries independent risk information.
Screening for contributing factors. Thyroid function, PCOS, medications associated with weight gain, sleep apnoea, and psychological or behavioural factors including disordered eating patterns.
Investigations. Usually blood tests — glucose or HbA1c, lipids, liver function, thyroid function.
A discussion of options appropriate to your situation, and a plan.
How to prepare
- Bring a list of your medications, including supplements and anything over-the-counter
- Bring recent test results if you have them, or the name of the pathology provider
- Note your weight history roughly — the pattern matters more than exact numbers
- Write down your questions. Appointments move quickly and the things you meant to ask are easy to lose
- Be clear about what you want — some people want treatment, others want assessment and information first. Both are reasonable
Questions worth asking
- What do my results show, and what's driving my situation?
- What options are appropriate for me, and why those?
- What would this cost, including ongoing costs?
- What monitoring will I need, and how often will we review?
- What should I expect in the first few months?
- What happens if it doesn't work?
- Should my liver, glucose or cardiovascular risk be assessed?
On being taken seriously
Many people arrive at these appointments having previously been told to eat less and move more, and expect the same again. If you feel dismissed, you're entitled to seek another opinion — and clinicians with specific interest in this area are listed in our directory.
Next: How medical weight management works · Costs and funding · Find a GP →
Educational information only. Not a substitute for medical advice — speak to a qualified health practitioner about your circumstances.