October 2002

New obesity clinic opens

A new obesity service in Melbourne’s western suburbs will support people in their battle to lose weight and reduce the risk of them developing life threatening diseases.

At the opening of the service at the Western Hospital, Health Minister John Thwaites said obesity was a major factor for many patients needing hospital services including respiratory medicine, endocrinology and general surgery.

‘The new service will bring together a range of health professionals to tackle obesity including respiratory and sleep physicians, endocrinologists, behavioural psychologists, surgeons, dietitians and exercise instructors.

‘Patients will receive personalised programs which may include tests such as cardiopulmonary exercise test, electrocardiograph, chest x-ray, respiratory function tests and sleep studies.

‘The obesity clinic will treat patients over 16 with severe obesity that is associated with health problems such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, a range of cancers, musculoskeletal disorders, type 2 diabetes and depression.

‘The clinic offers both outpatient and inpatient services and is expected to manage up to 400 patients a year.’

Western Health’s Director of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine Dr Harry Teichtahl said the new clinic would develop best practice strategies to address increasing numbers of obese patients being treated at the Western Hospital.

‘Some 70 per cent of patients treated for sleep disorders within Western Health are obese,’ Dr Teichtahl said.

‘Studies reveal we are treating diseases caused by obesity, such as sleep apnoea, but we are not tackling the real cause of these problems.

‘The introduction of this new service means we can support people aiming to lose excess weight with a range of measures including diet, lifestyle changes, medication and obesity surgery.’