Review into obesity drug prescription by doctors launched by Melbourne university

As more Aussies turn to weight loss drugs to drop the kilos, a new review is being launched into how obesity is being is being treated by Australian doctors.

The Federal Government is commissioning experts at Deakin University to lead a review into the guidelines around the advice that doctors and medical experts will provide for people who are obese or overweight.

There have been many developments in the in drugs to treat obesity in the past few years, which will be a focus of the study.

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The guidelines have not changed since 2013.

But the Australian Medical Institute (AMA) said doctors and patients should focus more on preventative measures rather than curable measures.

Former federal deputy health officer Nick Coatsworth told Weekend Today he agreed with the AMA.

"I think we should focus on preventive health care," Coatsworth said.

"The widespread prescription of these as the first solution to weight loss is not in my view the right way to go."

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According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) two in three adults, about 12.5 million Australians, are obese or overweight.

The rate of obese and overweight people has increased from 57 per cent of the population in 1995 to 67 per cent in 2017 and 2018.

People who are overweight or obese have an increased likelihood of developing many chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, back problems, chronic kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, and some cancers, AIHW said.

It is also associated with a higher death rate when looking at all causes of death.

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