Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast

Weight regain after bariatric surgery is one of the most feared — and most misunderstood — parts of the journey. So when does it become a problem, and what can you actually do about it?   In this episode, Accredited Practising Dietitian and Dietetics Lead Jennifer Tsoutsoulis from Melbourne Weight Loss Solutions unpacks why some degree of weight regain is a normal part of the post...

What should women know about preparing for pregnancy after bariatric surgery? And how can nutrition during this time support both maternal health and a baby’s long-term development? In this episode, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Melanie McGrice explains why the period before conception and through a child’s first two years is one of the most important windows for nutrition....

What if everything you've been told about willpower and weight loss is wrong? Obesity Specialist GP and dietitian Dr. Mais Hussein reveals why obesity isn't a character flaw—it's a chronic disease driven by over 100 hunger hormones working against you. We explore why GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are powerful tools, not magic fixes, and what happens when people use them without p...

You take your vitamins religiously for the first year after surgery, your labs look fine, so you stop. What could go wrong? Kate Fuss, Physician Assistant-Certified and founder of Banana Bariatrics, has watched patients arrive at clinics unable to walk straight down the hallway, their teeth cracking, skin deteriorating—all because they believed vitamins were temporary.  In this episode,...

What if the pain, heavy bleeding, and chaos you've accepted as "normal" isn't normal at all? Naturopath and author Lara Briden reveals why your menstrual cycle is the most underrated health report card you'll ever get—and what it's actually telling you about insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic health. We explore why hormonal birth control isn't regulating your period (it's suppre...

What if the biggest obstacle after weight loss surgery isn't the stalls, the food aversions, or even the physical recovery—but the voice in your head? Alex Lauren takes us five months into her bariatric journey, beyond the highlight reel most people share online. She unpacks the hypercritical inner dialogue that emerged during her first stall, the unexpected ways her autoimmune condition sha...

What if the simple act of stepping on the scales is doing more harm than good? Dr. Cal Paterson challenges something we've all accepted as routine: weighing patients. We explore why weight and obesity aren't the same thing, how the scales have become a measure of worth rather than health, and why this seemingly innocent medical procedure deserves far more thought than it gets. Cal walks us through...

What if you could stop guessing what works for your body and actually see what's happening inside? John Wright from Metabolic Health Solutions joins me to talk about something we don't discuss enough: metabolism and how it actually works. We dig into why the number on the scale doesn't tell us much about our health, and how testing your metabolism gives you real information you can use. John expla...

Dr. Melissa Beitner, a bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist who brings a comprehensive understanding of both surgical and medical weight loss treatments. Her work at 360Surgical reflects a multidisciplinary approach to treating obesity as the chronic disease it is. In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of obesity treatment, from understanding who qualifies for GLP-1 medic...

Why do successful women still struggle with money decisions, even when they have the knowledge and resources to make better choices? The answer often lies not in their bank accounts, but in the stories they tell themselves about money. Melissa Meagher spent over 20 years in finance working as a financial planner, stockbroker, and seminar delivery specialist before discovering that technical knowle...

What if the key to fertility isn't about trying harder, but about understanding your body's fundamental needs first? Sleep might matter more than your hormone levels when it comes to conception. Kirsten Karchmer has spent 25 years working in women's health and fertility after her own health crisis led her to Chinese medicine. She shares her journey from competitive gymnast with MS to fertility exp...

True healing begins not with medicine, but with food, breath, and daily habits.  In this episode, Dr. Avi Charlton, a Melbourne-based General Practitioner with over 20 years of experience shares her inspiring journey from being a traditional GP to becoming a passionate advocate for therapeutic carbohydrate reduction and holistic lifestyle medicine. Prompted by a personal wake-up call about he...

Did you know that endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 7 Australian women by age 49, yet diagnosis can still take over six years on average? In this episode, Donna Ciccia, a health advocate and co-founder of Endometriosis Australia shares her powerful journey in founding the organisation and fighting for better outcomes for people with endometriosis. She opens up about the personal challenges t...

When you help, you see life as weak; when you fix, you see life as broken—but when you're in service, you see life as whole and beautiful.   In this episode, Nicole Lange, a fertility and trauma-focused acupuncturist and founder of Life Healing Life, discusses her holistic approach to women’s health. Drawing from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Nicole explains how she integrat...

Did you know that declining oestrogen levels during perimenopause can significantly impact not just mood and memory, but also increase the risk of metabolic conditions like insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease? In this episode, Dr. Lucy Burns, a GP with extensive experience in metabolic health, mental health, and menopause, discusses the intricate connections between hormonal changes, ADH...

Over 80% of people regain weight within a year after stopping GLP-1 medications—yet few receive the guidance needed to prevent it. In this episode, Ana Reisdorf, a seasoned registered dietitian from the U.S. and founder of RWS Content and Strategy, shares her personal and professional journey with GLP-1 medications like Ozempic for weight management. Drawing on her background in bariatrics a...

Obesity isn’t just about weight, it's about stigma, access to care, and the power of lived experience to drive real change. In this episode, Andrew Wilson and Theresa Thompson from WIN (Weight Issues Network), an Australian organisation led by individuals with lived experience of obesity, share WIN's mission to challenge weight stigma, improve healthcare equity, and advocate for holistic and...

What really happens when someone chooses weight loss surgery? Is it a quick fix or the result of years of trying everything else first? In this episode, Jess Unsworth shares her honest journey through weight struggles, medical challenges, and finally, her decision to have bariatric surgery. Jess talks about her work in emergency services, the toll it took on her body, and the frustration of dealin...

Obesity is one of the risk factors affecting fertility—and tackling it together as a couple can make all the difference. In this episode, Dr Toby Angstmann, an experienced fertility specialist at Flinders Fertility, explores the intricate relationship between obesity and fertility. Dr. Angstmann discusses how factors like age, PCOS, and hormonal disruption linked to obesity can significantly...

Obesity is not a simple matter of willpower, it is a complex, multifactorial disease influenced by genetics, environment, and biology, requiring a shift in both perception and treatment. In this episode, Dr. Alex Craven, a highly skilled general surgeon with a specialisation in obesity and upper gastrointestinal surgery discusses the evolving understanding of obesity and metabolic health, highligh...

The key to sustainable weight loss isn’t just shedding pounds, it’s understanding the science behind it and making lasting lifestyle changes. In this episode, Dr. Arun Dhir, a Bariatric Surgeon and Associate Professor at La Trobe University, discusses obesity management, gut health, and GLP-1 medications. Dr. Dhir shares insights from his research on how gastric bypass surgery affects...

Sustainable weight loss isn’t just about surgery, it’s about mindset, strategy, and designing a life that supports lasting change. In this episode,Bill Streetman, a weight loss surgery advocate and endurance cyclist, shares his compelling journey from struggling with obesity to undergoing weight loss surgery and transforming his life. He discusses the challenges he faced, including the...

They say how you dress is a reflection of who you are and what kind of person you are.   In this episode, Ann Whitaker, an Image Consultant, introduced herself and her background, discussing the transformative impact of color and style on personal appearance. She explored the significance of personal branding and its influence on how one is perceived. Ann highlighted the effect of appearance...

Imagine a world where everybody feels welcome in healthcare—it's time to make that a reality. In this episode, Nadia Walton, physiotherapist and founder of Laneways Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, shares her journey of creating an inclusive healthcare practice for patients with larger bodies. Drawing from over a decade of experience, Nadia discusses tackling weight stigma, supporting movement...

Obesity management is evolving beyond weight loss, with groundbreaking treatments like GLP-1 medications offering new hope for holistic health improvement. In this episode, Dr. Terri-Lynne South, a dual-qualified dietitian and medical doctor specializing in weight management. She discusses medical weight loss drugs, particularly GLP-1 medications, emphasizing their role as part of a broader obesit...