Your first appointment
What Happens at Your First Telehealth Weight Loss Consult?
A 20-minute telehealth consult by phone or video. Here’s how to prepare and what to expect.
- No referral needed
- $59.99, or bulk billed for eligible patients
- Leave with a clear plan
Prescribing is at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner, based on your individual circumstances.
Clinically reviewed by Associate Professor Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN · AHPRA NMW0001453715 · Last reviewed 19 October 2026
Your first consult at My Weight Loss Clinic is a 20-minute telehealth appointment with one of our doctors or nurse practitioners. They’ll take your health and weight history, go through your current medicines and measurements, talk about what you want to change, and agree a plan with you. That plan might include nutrition and activity changes, blood tests, dietitian support and, where clinically appropriate, other treatment options. Nothing is automatic: any prescribing decision is made by your doctor or nurse practitioner after assessing you.
The initial consult is $59.99, or bulk billed for eligible patients. You don’t need a referral.
Before your appointment
A little preparation makes 20 minutes go a long way.
Book and complete your details. Book online, choose a time and complete the short health questionnaire. Have your Medicare card handy so we can check whether bulk billing applies to you.
Gather this information:
- a list of every medicine and supplement you take, with doses
- any recent blood test results (from the past 12 months), or the name of the clinic that ordered them
- your main medical conditions and any past operations
- your weight, height and waist measurement, taken that morning (see below)
- a recent blood pressure reading, if you have one from a pharmacy or home monitor
- two or three questions you want answered
Measure yourself. Weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after going to the toilet and before eating. Measure your waist directly against your skin, midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, at the end of a normal breath out. Our guide to BMI and waist measurement explains why waist size matters, and you can check your BMI before your consult.
Be ready for your appointment. Your consult can be by phone or video. For a phone consult, your doctor or nurse practitioner calls from a private number, so make sure your phone accepts calls from no-caller-ID numbers. For video, check your camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand. Either way, find somewhere quiet and private. You’re welcome to have a support person with you.
What your doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about
The aim of the first consult is to understand what’s driving your weight, because the answer differs from person to person. Expect questions about:
- Your weight history: when it changed, what was happening at the time, and what you’ve tried before
- Medical conditions linked to weight, such as type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid problems, joint pain and fatty liver
- Your medicines, because some commonly prescribed medicines can contribute to weight gain (read more)
- Eating patterns: meal timing, hunger, cravings and emotional eating
- Sleep, stress and mood
- Physical activity, including anything that limits it, such as pain or injury
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or plans for pregnancy
- Any history of disordered eating. We ask everyone, because eating disorders are common in people of higher weight, often go unrecognised, and need different support
- Your goals: what you want to be able to do, not only a number on the scale
There are no wrong answers. Weight is shaped by biology, medicines, sleep, stress and circumstances, not willpower alone, and our doctors and nurse practitioners are trained to talk about it without judgement. If past appointments have put you off, our article on weight stigma in healthcare may help.
Measurements and tests
Because the consult is by telehealth, your doctor or nurse practitioner can’t examine you in person. They’ll use the measurements you provide and may ask for more information:
- Blood tests. Your doctor or nurse practitioner may request pathology, for example to check blood glucose, cholesterol, liver and kidney function or thyroid function. You’ll get a request to take to a local collection centre. Pathology providers set their own fees, and many bulk bill tests covered by Medicare; ask the collection centre.
- A blood pressure check at a pharmacy or with your usual healthcare provider, if you don’t have a recent reading.
- Information from your usual healthcare provider, such as recent results or letters, with your consent.
If your doctor or nurse practitioner thinks you need a physical examination or an in-person service, they’ll tell you and help you arrange it.
What you'll leave with
By the end of the first consult you should have:
- a clear plan covering nutrition, activity, sleep and any other changes you’ve agreed
- any test requests or referrals you need
- a decision about treatment options. Where clinically appropriate, your doctor or nurse practitioner may discuss other treatments. Prescribing is at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner, based on your individual circumstances. If a medicine is prescribed, it’s priced separately by the pharmacy
- a recommended time for your first review
If your doctor or nurse practitioner decides a particular treatment isn’t right for you, they’ll explain why and talk about other options. That might include in-person care with your usual healthcare provider, or a specialist service. The consult fee still applies, because you’ve received a clinical assessment and advice.
After your first consult
Ongoing care is where most of the work happens. Your doctor or nurse practitioner will recommend how often to check in, based on your plan and how things are going.
| Follow-up | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Review consult | 10 min | $69.99 |
| Extended follow-up consult | 20 min | $85.99 |
| Dietitian follow-up consult | 20 min | $85.99 |
| Dietitian initial consult | 30 min | $100.99 |
Reviews are a chance to look at what’s working, adjust the plan, go through any test results and talk about side effects or barriers. You can add dietitian support at any stage. As things settle, the focus shifts to keeping your progress going; our article on what long-term maintainers do covers this stage.
With your consent, we can send a summary of your care to your usual healthcare provider so everyone is working from the same information.
Questions worth asking at your first consult
- What do you think is contributing to my weight?
- Which tests do I need, and why?
- What changes should I focus on first?
- What are my treatment options, and what are the risks and costs of each?
- How often should I have a review?
- What should I do if I have a problem between appointments?
- Am I eligible for bulk billing or a Medicare rebate?
When not to wait for a telehealth appointment
Telehealth isn’t for emergencies. Call 000 if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or another emergency. If you’re feeling distressed or unsafe, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For help with eating, body image or disordered eating, contact the Butterfly Foundation helpline on 1800 33 4673.
How long is the first telehealth weight loss consult?
The initial consult with a doctor or nurse practitioner is 20 minutes.
Is the first consult by phone or video?
Either. Your consult can be by phone or video. Phone calls come from a private number, so make sure your phone accepts calls from no-caller-ID numbers.
Do I need a referral for my first consult?
No. You can book directly with one of our doctors or nurse practitioners. With your consent, we can keep your usual healthcare provider informed.
How much does the first consult cost?
The initial consult is $59.99, or bulk billed for eligible patients. Medicines, if prescribed, are priced separately by the pharmacy. See Fees, Medicare and bulk billing.
Will I be prescribed something at my first consult?
Not necessarily. Your doctor or nurse practitioner assesses you first, and any prescribing decision is at their discretion, based on your individual circumstances. Many plans start with nutrition, activity, sleep and tests.
What do I need to have ready?
A list of your medicines and supplements, any recent blood test results, your weight, height and waist measurement taken that morning, and your Medicare card.
What if I miss the call or need to reschedule?
Please give at least 1 business day’s notice to cancel or reschedule. Missed appointments and late cancellations are charged the fee for the booked time slot.
Sources (6)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Telehealth. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/health-technologies-and-digital-health/about/telehealth
- healthdirect. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/health-screenings/body-mass-index-bmi-and-waist-circumference
- healthdirect. Obesity. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/conditions/metabolic-diseases/obesity
- 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/
- Lifeline Australia. https://www.lifeline.org.au/