About our service
Blacktown and Westmead hospitals provide publicly funded programs to help people manage obesity and related health conditions.
Our teams include doctors, dietitians, psychologists, exercise physiologists and surgeons. We work together to help patients make long-term, healthy lifestyle changes to improve their wellbeing.
These services are fully publicly funded, so there are no out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients.
Our services
Blacktown Hospital Metabolic Program
The Metabolic Program (program) at Blacktown Hospital is a specialist service that supports people living with severe obesity and related health conditions including:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- liver disease
- respiratory disorders.
General practitioners (doctors) and medical specialists can refer patients to our program using our referral template. Please note, we do not accept referrals that have not used our referral template.
In this section, you can learn more about our program.
- dietary interventions
- intensive lifestyle coaching and education
- medical treatments for optimising (improving) metabolic health
- weight loss surgery for eligible patients. Surgeries offered include gastric sleeve or bypass surgery.
We help patients make lasting lifestyle changes as well help people prepare for weight loss surgery. Our team includes:
- a dietitian
- endocrinologist
- psychologist
- exercise physiologist and surgeons.
Please speak with your GP (doctor) or treating doctor to determine if you are eligible for our program. If you are eligible, your doctor can submit a referral on your behalf.
We are unable to respond to patient enquiries if you are not a patient with our program. We request you to direct all your enquiries and questions to your treating doctor.
We are currently on accepting referrals for patients living within the Blacktown Council area.
Patients cannot self-refer to the program. We only accept referrals from:
- a GP (doctor), if the patient meets the eligibility criteria for our program. The criteria are provided in our referral form.
- a medical specialist (for example, cardiologist, endocrinologist, or surgeon)
How to refer:
- Use the Metabolic and Weight Loss Clinic Adult Referral Form on the Western Sydney Community Health Pathways website.
- Email the completed form to WSLHD-BMDHmetabolicclinic@health.nsw.gov.au.
Note: Standard GP referrals will not be accepted and will be returned for completion using the correct form.
Contact us
Westmead Hospital Obesity Service
The Westmead Hospital Obesity Clinic helps general practitioners manage patients with moderate to severe obesity (BMI above 35) or obesity linked to significant health conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes or respiratory disorders.
The clinic focuses on improving long-term health through realistic and sustainable changes in diet, activity and lifestyle. Rapid or extreme weight loss is not encouraged unless medically required.
During your first visit, you’ll be assessed by an endocrinologist, dietitian and exercise physiologist. Together with your referring doctor, they’ll identify the causes of weight gain and design a personalised treatment plan.
Treatment options may include:
- the Australian guide to healthy eating
- low-carbohydrate and high-protein diets
- the 5:2 Diet
- very low-calorie diets
- appetite suppressant medications (if suitable)
- personalised exercise programs.
Patients are usually seen every 2 weeks at first, then monthly, and every 2 to 3 months for long-term follow-up.
Clinic staff include:
- Endocrinologist: Dr SuAnn Ding.
- Dietitians: Ashwini Chand and Veronica Mok.
- Exercise physiologist: Daniel Parker.
The clinic runs weekly on Tuesday mornings, 9am to 12pm at Westmead Hospital University Clinics.
Patients must have a current referral to Dr Jonathan Marks.
How to refer or book:
- Fax referrals to (02) 8890 8333
- For appointments or enquiries, call (02) 8890 6544
Appointments are managed through Westmead Hospital University Clinics.
For more information on the Obesity Clinic, call (02) 8890 6544.
Other free weight management support
Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service
The Get Healthy Service is a free NSW Government program that provides phone-based health coaching to help you achieve your healthy lifestyle goals.
Health coaches include qualified dietitians, exercise physiologists, psychologists, and nurses.
For more information, visit the Get Healthy Service website or call 1300 806 258.
Find a weight management service
Use our Service Directory to find a health service near you.