For many people trying to lose weight – particularly later in life – the biggest challenge isn’t simply losing kilos, but avoiding the traps that often derail progress. As an industry, weight loss is littered with fad diets, miracle supplements and quick fix promises. Some may deliver short-term results but fail to provide lasting change.
Confusion can easily reign too as it relates to alternative or medically based treatment options, costs and where to seek reliable advice, which can make knowing which path to take incredibly difficult.
For people over 60 looking to lose weight, exercise remains an important component of overall health.
But Apex Health Co-Founder Kyle Stewart says understanding these pitfalls is the first step toward a safer and more sustainable weight-loss journey, with its doctors understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation.
“It’s very much an individual thing, and it depends on the treatment that the doctor’s choosing,” Stewart says.
For those considering whether a treatment-based approach may pay dividends, Stewart says medical professionals may suggest a range of supportive activities depending on the patient’s circumstances.
“Often they will recommend an exercise physiologist, or to get into the gym,” he explains.
Of course, diet also plays a role alongside physical activity, with Stewart saying often, a high-protein, high-fibre diet is often recommended, noting also that some modern weight-loss medications can slow gastric emptying, making those nutrients particularly important.
Beyond physical factors, health professionals may also explore behavioural drivers of weight gain. “They’ll also recommend psychology if they find that there might be a psychological reason for the weight,” Stewart adds.
The weight-loss market is crowded with supplements, pills and diets promising quick results, with most backed by heavy marketing. Stewart believes these can sometimes offer short-term changes but rarely address the underlying problem.
“The issue with supplements is that you reduce calorie intake and it might make you feel full, but it’s short term. People then get hungry again,” he says.
In contrast, medically prescribed treatments may help manage appetite more consistently.
“With a medication-based treatment, you feel full basically all the time, or for longer, and so that’s how people sustain that weight loss,” Stewart explains.
He added that the sheer number of products available can make it difficult for consumers to distinguish between evidence-based treatments and heavily marketed quick fixes.
“I think there is a lot of them. I’m surprised a lot of them haven’t gone away with all these new medications coming out, because the medications generally are a lot more successful.
Another common concern for people considering a weight-loss program is cost. Long-term treatment can feel like a significant financial commitment. For Stewart, he acknowledges that price can be a barrier, but says providers try to balance affordability with clinical care.
“We try to remain competitive on our price on medications and try to make sure that what we’re offering is great clinical service, and keep the treatment prices as low as possible,” he says.
There can also be indirect financial benefits.
“If you do go onto a weight-loss treatment, you’re reducing the amount of food that you’re consuming, so that offsets the cost of the medication,” Stewart explains.
More importantly, the health and lifestyle improvements gained can be significant.
“Some of our patients find that with losing a bit of weight, they actually then have that motivation to start doing exercise and start to move.
“We’ve had feedback from patients saying they’ve now got the energy to play with their grandkids. You’re able to lose a bit of weight and have that mobility to spend time with family.”
For people accustomed to visiting a doctor’s clinic in person, telehealth can initially feel unfamiliar. However, Stewart says convenience and specialist expertise are driving its growth.
“The main thing is that our doctors do this day in and day out. They understand the different treatments that are available to patients and what to look for with these medications,” he says.
There are also practical advantages.
“It’s the convenience of home. You’re not sitting around people who have got colds and flus. You choose a time and the doctor phones you at that point,” Stewart explains.
Ultimately, Stewart believes the most important step in any weight-loss journey is avoiding unrealistic expectations and seeking professional guidance.
With so many diets, supplements and marketing messages competing for attention, he says a medically supervised approach can help people focus on strategies that are sustainable – and supported by evidence.