Metabolic Obesity Service a life-changing experience for Theresa

Many biological, social and psychological factors can shape obesity – each factor playing a powerful role that cannot be overcome by willpower alone.

It means managing obesity requires a team approach with ongoing support and monitoring, like that provided by the Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s Metabolic Obesity Service (MOS).

Narrandera woman Theresa Thompson had not long moved the Murrumbidgee from interstate when she found the Wagga-based MOS online and got a referral.

“To say that I was overwhelmed with the quality of service from Wagga is an understatement,” the 49-year-old said.

“What I really like about the metabolic clinic is that they don't judge and that they understand the nuanced issues related to living in a larger body.

“The other thing I love is that they're continually learning and embracing that lived experience voice and taking on feedback.”

Speaking ahead of World Obesity Day on March 4, Ms Thompson urged others living in a larger body to “trust the process”.

She said her experience had opened her eyes to the kind of care people should be receiving and what is lacking.

Although GLP-1receptor agonists (GLP-1s) – like Ozempic and Wegovy – have been well publicised in the media, Ms Thompson said they “were not everything”.

“It's multidisciplinary, it's nuanced. There's so much to everybody's story that leads to living in a larger body and that impacts the barriers to then losing the weight and getting healthier,” she said.

Obesity is a chronic condition, and treatment ideally includes psychosocial support, dietetic support, movement and exercise support and medical support, as well as surgery.

MOS General Practitioner, Dr Katherine Smith said the service’s multidisciplinary approach meant patients were nurtured by a team of people for their entire journey.

“While the Metabolic Obesity Service is a surgical program and all of our patients have been referred to us for metabolic bariatric surgery, we emphasise that surgery is just one component of long-term weight management and health,” Dr Smith said.

“To achieve and maintain optimum health outcomes, it is essential to work on lifestyle changes such as mindset, eating behaviours and purposeful exercise.”

Ms Thompson said the collaborative approach and transparency between MOS clinicians really helped her get through the process.

“You're fully accountable but at the same time fully supported," she said.

“Having the services of a psychologist and a physio and a dietitian through all of that … I couldn't believe that sort of service was available.”

Ms Thompson said the MOS helped connect her with the Weight Issues Network – a group of Australians fighting against weight bias, stigma and misinformation.

She now works for the service as an Operations Lead.

“It's not just me, there's other people suffering and going through stigmatic situations,” she said.

“I didn't know that there was so much work going on in the background and research, so it really kind of inspired me learn more and become more knowledgeable.

“I've learned so much in the last couple of years, thanks to the clinic.”

Dr Smith said assuming a person’s weight was due to personal choices overlooked the realities people face and unintentionally reinforces stigma that harms health rather than supports it.

“Promoting obesity awareness means acknowledging this complexity, treating individuals with dignity, and ensuring that care is compassionate, evidence-based, and free from blame,” she said.

Projections show that half of the world’s population - around 4 billion people - are expected to be living with overweight or obesity by 2035.

World Obesity Day aims to highlight the need for understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity, with this year’s focus on one of our most vulnerable communities: children.

Childhood obesity is rising rapidly, with rates among school-aged children increasing almost fivefold since 1975, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.