Weight Loss Clinic Canberra
Your local weight loss
clinic in Phillip
Doctor-led, non-surgical weight loss care in Phillip, Canberra. We build a plan around your health and goals, and support you as you go.
How we can help
Medical weight loss support for different health needs, including fertility, menopause and surgery.
Why diet and exercise alone isn't always enough
Your body’s chemistry
Hormones: Insulin, leptin and ghrelin help control hunger, fullness and fat storage. Even small changes can make weight harder to lose.
Insulin resistance: The body doesn’t respond to insulin as well, so it struggles to use sugar for energy. This can lead to more fat being stored.
Metabolism: How quickly your body uses energy differs between people and can change over time. A slower metabolism can make weight harder to shift.
How your body adapts
Long-term dieting: Cutting calories for a long time can cause the body to adapt and use less energy, making weight loss harder to keep up.
Set point: Your body may have a natural weight it works hard to hold on to. When you go below it, hunger can increase.
Your genes and life
Genetics: Some people inherit a slower metabolism or a tendency to store fat in certain areas.
Stress and mood: Stress, anxiety and low mood can affect what and when you eat. Getting support for these can make healthy habits easier.
A medical assessment can help work out what may be affecting you, so your plan focuses on the right things.
Why diet and exercise alone isn't always enough
Eating well and staying active matter. But your weight is also shaped by things you can’t always see or control.
- Hormones: Insulin, leptin and ghrelin help control hunger, fullness and fat storage. Even small changes can make weight harder to lose.
- Insulin resistance: The body doesn’t respond to insulin as well, so it struggles to use sugar for energy. This can lead to more fat being stored.
- Genetics: Some people inherit a slower metabolism or a tendency to store fat in certain areas.
- Metabolism: How quickly your body uses energy differs between people and can change over time. A slower metabolism can make weight harder to shift.
- Long-term dieting: Cutting calories for a long time can cause the body to adapt and use less energy, making weight loss harder to keep up.
- Set point: Your body may have a natural weight it works hard to hold on to. When you go below it, hunger can increase.
- Stress and mood: Stress, anxiety and low mood can affect what and when you eat. Getting support for these can make healthy habits easier.
A medical assessment can help work out what may be affecting you, so your plan focuses on the right things.
Our Process
Your plan is built around your health and goals. It may include medication, changes to eating and activity, and support with habits.
Learn more about medical weight loss.
Assess
We start by getting to know you and your health. Depending on your needs, this may include:
- A review of your health, medical history and current conditions
- Blood tests, unless you've had the right ones recently
- Body composition mapping, to see your muscle and fat balance
- A chat about your eating, activity and daily routine
Plan
We create a plan with you, based on your goals.
- We go through your results together
- Your plan fits your health, history and lifestyle
- Medication prescribed where appropriate
- Eating and activity changes are realistic and manageable
No single diet or medication suits everyone, so your plan is your own.
Start
We put your plan into action.
- Starting medication, if it's part of your plan
- Referral to a dietitian or exercise physiologist, if helpful
- Referral to a bariatric surgeon, if surgery is the right option
Review
Regular check-ins keep your plan on track.
- Checking your progress
- Managing any side effects
- Adjusting your plan when needed
- Support with eating and lifestyle habits over time
- Reviewing your overall health and medications, if you have conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure
Who's involved in your care?
- Your doctor – leads your care from start to finish
- Our nurse – helps at your first appointments
- A dietitian or exercise physiologist – joins your care if you need them
Support beyond weight loss
- Considering surgery? We can give advice and refer you to a bariatric surgeon
- Our nurse – helps at your first appointments
- Had surgery already? We provide ongoing aftercare
Dr Sharmila Sambandam
MBBS, BMedSci, FRACGP
Practice Principal & General Practitioner (GP)
MBBS, FRACGP, BMedSc, PG Diploma (Obesity Management)
Dr Sharmila Sambandam is the Clinical Director of Olika Medical Weight Loss Clinic. She is a Canberra based Bariatric Physician.
Dr Sambandam studied medicine at ANU and has extensive experience in obesity and weight management. She blends her expertise as a GP with her specialist interest in preventative medicine and weight loss, to bring a unique model of care to her patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is medical weight loss suitable for?
It’s for adults who are carrying extra weight and have found it hard to lose. It’s also for people who’ve had weight loss surgery and need ongoing aftercare. Check your BMI (link: BMI Calculator) for a quick guide, or book a consultation to talk it through.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book directly with us.
Is there a Medicare rebate?
Medicare rebates apply to doctor appointments for eligible Medicare card holders. You pay on the day, and Medicare pays the rebate directly to you. Allied health providers are independent businesses. They set their own fees, which you pay directly to them.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
- Your Medicare card
- A list of your current medications
- Any recent blood test results
Will I be prescribed medication?
If it’s suitable for you. Your doctor will talk through your options. Medication is often used alongside changes to eating, activity and habits.
How often are review appointments?
Early on, you’ll have longer reviews to check how you’re going and manage any side effects. After that, regular short check-ins keep your plan on track. How often depends on your plan.
Can I have appointments by telehealth?
Yes, for follow-ups. Your first appointment needs to be in person so your doctor can do a full assessment. This is also needed to claim a Medicare rebate for later telehealth visits.
How long will I need treatment?
It depends on your health and goals. Some people need support for a few months, others for longer. Your doctor will review this with you as you go.
Talk to a doctor about your weight
Book a consultation at our clinic in Phillip, Canberra. No referral needed.