87% of Australians struggling to lose weight, yet effective obesity treatments remain elusive

Released on World Obesity Day, a new survey commissioned by Eli Lilly has highlighted significant concerns surrounding obesity management in Australia.

Conducted with over 1,000 Australian adults meeting the latest international diagnostic criteria for clinical or pre-clinical obesity, the survey found that 87% of respondents are actively attempting to lose weight. With an average weight of 109kg, participants indicated they aim to reduce, on average, 23% of their body weight.

Dr Teresa Girolamo, an obesity specialist and co-founder of the Re:You Health Weight Management Clinic in Adelaide, stressed the complexity of obesity.

“For too long, we have oversimplified the relationship between lifestyle choices and excess weight,” she said. “We know that factors beyond an individual’s control – including brain signals, changes in metabolism, hormones, fat storage, and energy expenditure – can cause biological resistance to weight loss. Simply put, this is when the body fights back to counter weight loss.”

The findings come as the global conversation around obesity diagnosis and treatment continues to evolve. According to Professor Wendy Brown, Head of the Department of Surgery at Monash University and Director of The Alfred’s Oesophago-Gastric-Bariatric Unit, the recent advancements in diagnostic criteria provide a more meaningful approach to obesity treatment.

“With the new criteria proposed by The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Obesity Commission, we finally have a medically meaningful way of diagnosing obesity, meaning we can tailor the treatment plan according to the patient’s needs,” Professor Brown explained.

However, she emphasised that despite these advancements, effective treatments, such as medications and bariatric surgery, remain difficult to access within the public healthcare system.

“Our recent research showing that bariatric surgery in Australia is relatively safe should also reassure patients, their loved ones, and payers such as government and insurers that bariatric surgery is safe, effective, and delivers great health improvement. It will also help to inform more accurate patient consent, so patients have an idea of what they can realistically expect to achieve after an operation and what the risks are,” she said.

Professor Brown further highlighted the substantial health benefits of bariatric surgery, saying “The safety of bariatric surgery means we can safely offer people a way to lose and keep off a substantial amount of weight, offering an opportunity to reverse or improve many health problems. Usually, they will have tried other ways of losing weight prior to being offered surgery.”

The financial impact of obesity treatment also cannot be understated. She added, “The ability to have 61% of people who were being treated for diabetes at the time of their bariatric surgery come off all medications at five years is another major benefit, not just for the individual, but also for our community in terms of health care expenditure.”

RACGP Obesity Management Specific Interest Group Chair, Dr Terri-Lynne South, said obesity is a serious health issue with multiple causes that need to be addressed. 

“We need to flip the script when it comes to public health messaging – it’s about gaining health, not just losing weight. There are also many more effective therapeutic treatments, which can be used together with lifestyle changes, to support people to improve their health and wellbeing,” Dr South stated.

Recently, in a head-to-head trial, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has proven superior to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) for weight loss, according to topline results from the SURMOUNT-5 trial, delivering 47% greater weight loss compared to Wegovy.

Nearly a third of Australia’s adult population is living with obesity, and it’s predicted to cost taxpayers and governments $87.7 billion annually by 2032.

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