Choosing your care
Online Weight Loss Clinic vs In-Person Weight Management: Which Suits You?
What online and in-person weight management each offer, when to be seen in person, and how to check a clinic is legitimate.
- Phone or video, with no travel or waiting room
- In-person care when you need an examination
- Many people use both
Clinically reviewed by Associate Professor Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN · AHPRA NMW0001453715 · Last reviewed 19 October 2026
Online (telehealth) and in-person weight management can cover much of the same care: an assessment of what’s driving your weight, blood tests, a personalised plan, regular reviews and, where clinically appropriate, other treatment options. The main differences are physical examination (only possible in person), convenience and access (telehealth needs no travel or waiting room), and some Medicare rules for telehealth. Many people use both: an online clinic for focused weight management, and their usual healthcare provider for hands-on care.
This guide compares the two, explains when you need to be seen in person, and shows how to check that an online weight loss clinic is legitimate.
Online vs in-person weight management at a glance
| Online (telehealth) clinic | In-person care | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you’re seen | From home or work, by phone or video | At a clinic, practice or hospital service |
| Physical examination | Not possible; you provide your own measurements | Yes |
| Getting an appointment | Often outside business hours. My Weight Loss Clinic runs 8am to 8pm AEST, 365 days a year | Depends on what’s available near you |
| Travel and time off work | None | Travel, parking and waiting time |
| Blood tests | Requested by your doctor or nurse practitioner, collected at a local pathology centre | Requested by your doctor or nurse practitioner, collected at a local pathology centre |
| Treatment options | Discussed where clinically appropriate; prescribing at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner | Discussed where clinically appropriate; prescribing at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner |
| Dietitian support | Often available by telehealth too | Usually a separate referral and appointment |
| Medicare | Telehealth consults usually need a face-to-face visit with the same doctor, nurse practitioner or practice in the past 12 months, unless an exemption applies | The 12-month telehealth rule doesn’t apply to in-person visits |
| Continuity | Regular reviews with a clinic focused on weight management | Your usual provider knows your whole health history |
When an online weight loss clinic may suit you
Online care may suit you if you:
- want focused support for weight management with regular reviews
- find it hard to get to appointments because of work, family, distance or mobility
- live outside a major city, or where services have long waiting times
- would feel more comfortable talking about your weight from home
- want dietitian support as part of the same service
- already have a usual healthcare provider for the rest of your care
When in-person care is the better choice
Some things can’t be done well by telehealth. Seek in-person care if you:
- need a physical examination, or have new symptoms that need hands-on assessment
- have several complex or unstable health conditions that need in-person monitoring
- have rapid or unexplained weight gain or loss
- are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
- have, or think you may have, an eating disorder (Butterfly Foundation helpline: 1800 33 4673)
- simply prefer to be seen face to face
In an emergency, call 000. If something is urgent but not an emergency, seek medical care promptly: contact your usual healthcare provider or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
A good online clinic will tell you when telehealth isn’t the right fit and help you arrange in-person care.
Using online and in-person care together
You don’t have to choose one. Many people combine them:
- Share information. With your consent, an online clinic can send a summary of your care to your usual healthcare provider, and your existing test results help your online doctor or nurse practitioner plan your care.
- Medicare-rebated dietitian visits. These need a chronic condition management plan from your usual general practice. With one, you may be able to claim a rebate for dietitian consults, including with our dietitians.
- Specialist services. If weight loss surgery or a specialist service is worth discussing, an online doctor or nurse practitioner can refer you, and the specialist will see you in person.
How to check an online weight loss clinic is legitimate
Before you book with any online clinic, check:
- Registered doctors and nurse practitioners. Every doctor or nurse practitioner should be registered with AHPRA. You can search the AHPRA public register by name.
- A real assessment first. A doctor or nurse practitioner should assess your health history, medicines and measurements before any treatment decision. Be wary of any service that offers treatment before you’ve been assessed.
- No guarantees or testimonials. Australian law doesn’t allow regulated health services to use testimonials about clinical outcomes or to create unreasonable expectations of benefit (AHPRA advertising guidelines). No one can guarantee how much weight you’ll lose.
- Clear fees. You should know the cost of each consult, whether bulk billing applies, and that medicines are priced separately, before you pay.
- Accreditation. Look for independent accreditation, such as against the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
- Safety information. The clinic should tell you what to do in an emergency and when to seek in-person care.
- Privacy. There should be a clear privacy policy explaining how your health information is handled.
For questions to ask about costs and contracts, see our pay as you go vs subscription checklist.
How online care works at My Weight Loss Clinic
My Weight Loss Clinic is an Australian online clinic for medical weight management. Your care is provided by AHPRA-registered doctors and nurse practitioners and Accredited Practising Dietitians, by phone or video, under our Clinical Director, Associate Professor Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN. We’re accredited by QIP against the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
| Consult | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consult with a doctor or nurse practitioner | 20 min | $59.99, or bulk billed for eligible patients |
| 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 |
Medicines, if prescribed, are priced separately by the pharmacy. Prescribing is at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner, based on your individual circumstances. There’s no membership or lock-in.
Read more about how care works with our doctors and nurse practitioners, or book a consult.
Is an online weight loss clinic as good as being seen in person?
They’re different. Online care can cover the assessment, tests, plan and regular reviews, and makes frequent follow-up easier. In-person care is needed for physical examination and some complex health needs. Many people use both.
Are online weight loss clinics legit?
Many are, but check before you book. Look for AHPRA-registered doctors and nurse practitioners, an assessment before any treatment decision, clear fees, independent accreditation, and no testimonials or guarantees about results.
Can an online clinic prescribe medicines?
Registered doctors and nurse practitioners can prescribe by telehealth when it’s clinically appropriate. Prescribing should only follow a proper assessment, and it’s always at the discretion of your doctor or nurse practitioner, based on your individual circumstances.
Do I need a referral to use an online weight loss clinic?
No. You can book directly with My Weight Loss Clinic.
Does Medicare cover telehealth weight loss consults?
Telehealth consults can attract a Medicare rebate when they meet the Medicare rules. Since 1 November 2025, telehealth consults usually need a face-to-face visit with the same doctor, nurse practitioner or practice in the past 12 months, unless an exemption applies. See Medicare and bulk billing.
Will you share my care with my usual healthcare provider?
Yes, if you want us to. With your consent, we can send a summary of your care to your usual healthcare provider.
When should I see someone in person instead?
If you need a physical examination, have new or worrying symptoms, rapid unexplained weight change, a complex or unstable health condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have an eating disorder. In an emergency, call 000.
Sources (8)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Telehealth. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/health-technologies-and-digital-health/about/telehealth
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. AskMBS advisory: MBS telehealth eligible telehealth practitioner requirements (November 2025). https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-11/askmbs-advisory-mbs-telehealth-eligible-telehealth-practitioner-previously-known-as-established-clinical-relationship-requirements-clarification.pdf
- healthdirect. What care do I need? https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthcare-and-services/general-health/what-care-do-i-need
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Registers of practitioners. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Advertising-hub/Advertising-guidelines-and-other-guidance/Advertising-guidelines.aspx
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/national-standards/primary-and-community-healthcare-standards
- MBS Online. Item 10954 (dietetics under a chronic condition management plan). https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=10954&qt=item
- Butterfly Foundation. National Helpline. https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/