Check your eligibility
Am I Eligible for Medical Weight Loss Treatment in Australia?
The BMI and waist guidelines doctors and nurse practitioners use, and how eligibility is assessed. Start with our BMI calculator.
- For people aged 16 and over
- A BMI of 25 or more, or weight-related health risks
- Your doctor or nurse practitioner decides after assessing you
Eligibility is decided by a doctor or nurse practitioner after an individual assessment.
Clinically reviewed by Associate Professor Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN · AHPRA NMW0001453715 · Last reviewed 19 October 2026
You may be eligible for a medical weight management program if you’re 16 or over, have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more or a waist measurement above the healthy range, and your weight is affecting or likely to affect your health. A weight-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea, makes clinical support more important. Eligibility is always decided by a doctor or nurse practitioner after an individual assessment; it isn’t just a number. Some people are better served by another service, for example during pregnancy or with an eating disorder.
Use the calculator below to check your BMI and waist measurement. This guide then explains the measures doctors and nurse practitioners use, the health conditions that count, and how eligibility is assessed at My Weight Loss Clinic.
Check your BMI
Enter your height and weight, and your waist measurement if you have it. Your result shows your BMI, what range it falls in for adults, and what’s usually considered. It’s a starting point, not a decision about treatment.
Quick guide: BMI and what's usually considered
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. You can use our calculator above, or the healthdirect BMI calculator. For adults, Australian health guidance uses these ranges:
| BMI (adults) | Category | What’s usually considered |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18.5 | Underweight | Weight loss isn’t appropriate. Talk to your usual healthcare provider |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight range | Healthy eating and activity. A medical weight program isn’t usually needed, though waist size and other risks still matter |
| 25 to 29.9 | Overweight | Lifestyle support: nutrition, activity, sleep and behaviour change, with a doctor or nurse practitioner or dietitian. A weight-related health condition makes clinical support more important |
| 30 or more | Obesity | Medical weight management: assessment, tests, a personalised plan and regular clinical review |
| 35 or more with a serious weight-related condition, or 40 or more | Obesity | As above. Referral to a specialist to discuss weight loss surgery may also be considered |
These are guides for doctors and nurse practitioners, not cut-offs that decide care on their own. Your doctor or nurse practitioner will look at the whole picture.
BMI doesn’t tell the whole story
BMI can’t tell muscle from fat, or show where fat is stored. That’s why doctors and nurse practitioners also look at:
- Waist circumference. For adults, the risk of weight-related disease is increased with a waist of 94 cm or more for men and 80 cm or more for women, and greatly increased at 102 cm or more for men and 88 cm or more for women. These thresholds don’t apply during pregnancy.
- Ethnic background. For people of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background, RACGP guidance uses lower BMI thresholds: overweight from 23 and obesity from 27.5. The healthy range is generally higher for people of Polynesian background.
- Age, muscle mass and pregnancy. Standard adult BMI ranges don’t apply under 18, and are less accurate for people over 65, athletes and during pregnancy. For 16- and 17-year-olds, your doctor or nurse practitioner uses age-appropriate measures.
Our article Is BMI actually useful? explains these limits in more detail.
Weight-related health conditions
Weight-related health conditions matter as much as the number on the scale, and your doctor or nurse practitioner will take them into account. They include:
- type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (insulin resistance and prediabetes)
- high blood pressure
- abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides
- cardiovascular disease
- obstructive sleep apnoea (sleep apnoea and weight)
- fatty liver disease
- osteoarthritis of the knees or hips (weight and joint pain)
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS and weight)
Bring any recent test results to your consult. If you haven’t had tests, your doctor or nurse practitioner may request them.
According to healthdirect, losing even 5–10% of your body weight can have significant health benefits and reduce the risk of complications; the Obesity Evidence Hub notes some benefits are seen with less. What’s realistic and worthwhile is different for each person; our article on how much weight you actually need to lose covers this.
When another service is a better fit
Telehealth weight management isn’t right for everyone. Your doctor or nurse practitioner may recommend a different service, or care alongside your usual healthcare provider or a specialist service, if you:
- are under 16. Children and younger teenagers need care from their usual healthcare provider or a paediatric service
- are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. Talk to your usual healthcare provider, obstetrician or midwife
- have, or have had, an eating disorder, or have symptoms such as bingeing, purging or severe restriction. Eating disorders are common in people of higher weight and often go unrecognised, so specialised support is important. The Butterfly Foundation helpline is on 1800 33 4673
- have a BMI under 25 without other risk factors
- have a complex or unstable medical condition that needs in-person assessment or a specialist
- need a physical examination to work out what’s going on, for example after rapid, unexplained weight gain or loss
- are acutely unwell. Call 000 in an emergency
None of this means you can’t get help. It means the right help may come from somewhere else first, and we’ll tell you where.
Other things your doctor or nurse practitioner will consider
- Your medicines. Some commonly prescribed medicines can contribute to weight gain (read more)
- What you’ve tried before, and what got in the way
- Your goals and readiness, including what you want to be able to do
- Life stage, such as perimenopause and menopause (menopause and weight change)
- Mental health, sleep and stress
- Previous weight loss surgery. You can still get support; your doctor or nurse practitioner will work with your surgical team where needed
Eligibility for treatment vs eligibility for bulk billing
These are two different questions.
- Clinical eligibility is about whether a medical weight management program is right for you. Your doctor or nurse practitioner decides this with you after assessing you.
- Bulk billing eligibility is about whether Medicare covers your consult. That depends on Medicare rules, including the 12-month face-to-face rule for telehealth and its exemptions. See Medicare and bulk billing for telehealth weight management.
How eligibility is assessed at My Weight Loss Clinic
- Book a 20-minute initial telehealth consult with one of our doctors or nurse practitioners. It’s $59.99, or bulk billed for eligible patients. You don’t need a referral.
- Your doctor or nurse practitioner assesses you: your weight history, measurements, health conditions, medicines, eating patterns, sleep and goals. See what happens at your first consult.
- You agree a plan together. That may include nutrition and activity changes, blood tests, dietitian support and, where clinically appropriate, other treatment options. Prescribing is at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner, based on your individual circumstances.
- If our service isn’t the right fit, your doctor or nurse practitioner will explain why and suggest where to go instead.
What BMI do you need for medical weight loss treatment?
There’s no single number. Medical weight management can suit people with a BMI of 25 or more, or a waist measurement above the healthy range, particularly if they have a weight-related health condition. Your doctor or nurse practitioner makes the decision after assessing you.
How do I work out my BMI?
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared, or use our BMI calculator. For example, 92 kg at 1.68 m is a BMI of 32.6. Adult BMI ranges don’t apply under 18 or during pregnancy.
Can I get medical weight loss treatment with a BMI under 30?
Yes. With a BMI of 25 or more, support from a doctor or nurse practitioner or dietitian can help, particularly if you have a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. Your doctor or nurse practitioner decides what’s appropriate for you.
Do I need a referral to be assessed?
No. You can book directly with one of our doctors or nurse practitioners at My Weight Loss Clinic.
Is there an age limit?
Our telehealth weight management service is for people aged 16 and over.
Can I be treated if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Weight loss treatment isn’t usually appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk to your usual healthcare provider, obstetrician or midwife about healthy weight during this time.
How do I qualify for medical weight loss under Medicare?
There’s no separate Medicare weight loss program. Your consults can be bulk billed or attract a Medicare rebate if they meet Medicare rules. Clinical eligibility is decided separately by your doctor or nurse practitioner. See Medicare and bulk billing.
What if I've had weight loss surgery?
You can still get support. Your doctor or nurse practitioner will take your surgical history into account and work with your surgical team where needed.
Sources (9)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/overweight-and-obesity/bmi-and-waist
- RACGP. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice (Red Book): Overweight and obesity. https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/preventive-activities-in-general-practice/metabolic/overweight-and-obesity
- healthdirect. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/health-screenings/body-mass-index-bmi-and-waist-circumference
- healthdirect. BMI calculator. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bmi-calculator
- healthdirect. Obesity. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/conditions/metabolic-diseases/obesity
- healthdirect. Guide to bariatric surgery. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/surgery/guide-to-bariatric-surgery
- National Eating Disorders Collaboration. Eating disorders and people with higher weight. https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/eating-disorders-and-people-with-higher-weight
- Butterfly Foundation. National Helpline. https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/
- Obesity Evidence Hub (Cancer Council Victoria). Health benefits of weight loss. https://www.obesityevidencehub.org.au/collections/impacts/health-benefits-of-weight-loss