Australian Obesity Treatment Plan
A simple tool to guide the management of obesity in primary care.
Obesity classification
BMI or Waist Circumference
BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2
(Population specific BMI 27.5-37.4 kg/m2 )*
Waist Circumference
F: > 88 cm M: > 102 cm
(Population specific F: > 80 cm, M: > 90 cm)*
BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2
(Population specific BMI ≥ 37.5 kg/m2 )*
Baseline assessment for complications
Medical: diabetes, cardiometabolic, NASH, sleep, PCOS
Psychological: eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem, stigmatisation
Physical: osteoarthritis, personal hygiene, breathlessness
Obesity-related complications
Nil
Present
Nil
Present
Target weight loss
>10%
>10%
>15%
>15%
Health service setting
Primary Care
Primary Care and / or Specialist Care
Specialist Care
Initial weight loss strategies
Supervised Lifestyle Interventions
Intensive Interventions
Intensive Interventions
Reduced Energy Diet (RED) or Low Energy Diet (LED)
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
Very Low Energy Diet
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
VLED +/- Pharmacotherapy
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
Secondary weight loss strategies
If the target weight loss is not achieved or if weight loss is not maintained:
If weight loss is not maintained:
Very Low Energy Diet (VLED) or RED/LED with Pharmacotherapy
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
± Pharmacotherapy
VLED +/- Pharmacotherapy
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
± Pharmacotherapy
VLED +/- Pharmacotherapy
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
± Pharmacotherapy
If the target weight loss is still not achieved:
If the target weight loss is not achieved:
Bariatric surgery
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
± Pharmacotherapy
Bariatric surgery
Followed by Weight Maintenance Diet
± Pharmacotherapy
Note:
BMI = body mass index
LED = low energy diet
NASH = non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
PCOS = polycystic ovary syndrome
RED = reduced energy diet
VLED = very low energy diet
*Cut-offs apply to Asian population and recommended for Australian indigenous population.