When it comes to managing your weight, hormones play a bigger role than many people realise. Hormones influence how your body stores fat, regulates appetite, and uses energy — and imbalances can make weight loss more difficult, even with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Common hormonal factors that affect weight include:

• Insulin resistance – makes it harder to burn fat and can lead to increased fat storage

• Cortisol (stress hormone) – elevated levels may promote abdominal fat gain

• Thyroid hormones – an underactive thyroid can slow metabolism

• Oestrogen changes – especially during menopause, can shift fat storage to the abdomen

• Leptin & Ghrelin – control hunger and fullness signals, often disrupted by poor sleep or yo-yo dieting

At our clinic, our GPs work to assess and address the underlying hormonal influences that may be impacting your weight. Whether you're navigating menopause, managing insulin resistance, or dealing with chronic stress, we create a personalised plan that supports your biology — not just your behaviour.

Everyone’s body responds differently to food, exercise, and weight loss — and genetics is a big reason why.

Your genes can influence:

• How your body stores and burns fat

• Hunger and satiety signals

• Food cravings and preferences

• Metabolic rate and insulin sensitivity

• How you respond to different types of diets or exercise

While genetics can make weight loss more challenging for some people, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Understanding your genetic tendencies allows us to develop smarter, more targeted strategies — rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

At our clinic, we combine medical insight with personalised nutrition to help you work with your body, not against it. Our GPs address the genetic, hormonal, and lifestyle factors influencing your weight.

Struggling to lose weight despite eating well and exercising? Stress might be playing a bigger role than you think.

When you're under ongoing stress, your body releases cortisol, the "stress hormone." While cortisol is helpful in short bursts, chronically high levels can lead to:

• Increased cravings for sugar and high-fat foods

• Greater fat storage around the abdomen

• Disrupted sleep, which affects hunger and metabolism

• Lower motivation and increased emotional eating

Stress doesn’t just affect your mood — it impacts your biology. That’s why effective weight loss often means looking beyond diet and exercise alone.

At our clinic, we take a holistic approach. Our GPs work with you to understand how stress might be affecting your body and help develop practical strategies, including nutrition, movement, sleep support, and stress management.

Your body isn’t working against you — it’s responding to stress. We can help.

Exercise is a key part of any healthy weight loss journey — but it’s not just about burning calories. The right type of movement supports your metabolism, muscle mass, mood, and long-term success.

Here’s how regular exercise helps with weight management:

• Boosts metabolism by increasing lean muscle mass

• Supports fat loss, especially when combined with nutrition changes

• Improves insulin sensitivity, reducing fat storage

• Lowers stress and cortisol levels

• Enhances mood and motivation through endorphin release

• Helps maintain weight loss over the long term

The best exercise plan is the one you can stick to — and that fits your body, lifestyle, and goals. Whether it's walking, strength training, swimming, or group fitness, even small changes can make a big impact.

At our clinic, our GPs and dietitian work together to help you create a sustainable, realistic plan that includes the right type of exercise for your needs — especially if you’re managing health conditions, injury, or hormonal changes.

Your metabolism is the process your body uses to convert food into energy. It plays a key role in how easily you gain or lose weight — but it's more complex than “fast” or “slow.”

Several factors affect your metabolism, including:

• Age – metabolism naturally slows with age

• Muscle mass – more muscle means higher energy burn at rest

• Hormones – thyroid, insulin, and sex hormones can influence metabolic rate

• Genetics – your inherited traits can affect how efficiently your body uses energy

• Dieting history – repeated restrictive diets can lower metabolic rate over time

If you're finding it hard to lose weight, your metabolism might be working against you — but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck.

At our clinic, we take a personalised, science-based approach. Our GPs and dietitian assess your health holistically and help create a plan to support and improve your metabolic function through nutrition, exercise, and medical guidance.

Struggling with a slow metabolism? Let’s work with your body — not against it.

For some people, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to achieve or maintain a healthy weight — especially when hormonal, metabolic, or medical factors are involved. In these cases, weight loss medications may offer safe and effective support when prescribed by a doctor.

How Do Weight Loss Medications Work?

Modern weight loss medications can help by:

• Reducing appetite or cravings

• Slowing stomach emptying to help you feel fuller for longer

• Improving blood sugar control

• Supporting metabolic function

These medications are typically used in combination with lifestyle changes — not as a replacement for healthy eating and movement.

Are They Right for You?

Weight loss medications may be suitable for people who:

• Have a BMI over 30, or over 27 with other health risks (like diabetes or high blood pressure)

• Have struggled with long-term weight management despite healthy changes

• Are under regular medical supervision

At our clinic, our GPs assess your individual needs, medical history, and goals to determine if a prescription weight loss medication is appropriate for you. We also work alongside our in-house dietitian to ensure a comprehensive, supportive approach.