The Phoenix approach to weight management

Most people who talk to us about their weight have tried something before.

A diet that worked for a while. A gym membership that faded by March. An app, a shake, a challenge.

The effort was usually real. What was missing was a plan built around the person, and a team to adjust it as things change.

That is how we approach weight management at Phoenix Health Co.

Why it has to be personal

Two people can weigh exactly the same and have very different amounts of muscle, body fat and visceral fat. They can also have very different reasons for where their weight sits. Hormones, sleep, stress, medications, eating patterns, activity and past dieting all play a part, and the mix is different for everyone.

“At Phoenix, we start with the person at the centre of their own journey,” says Dr Oscar Horky, GP and Head of Medicine at Phoenix. “That means getting to know your goals, your life and what will realistically work around you. Different strategies suit different people, so we personalise the plan to you. We want to build momentum and get some early wins, but the real aim is something you can sustain, so it leads you towards better health over the long term.”

That begins with a clear picture rather than a goal weight. Depending on your starting point, it can include a GP consultation, a DEXA body composition scan in the clinic, a personalised blood panel and an assessment of your strength and fitness.

That gives you and your team something objective to work from, and something to measure against later. Your GP, dietitian and the Phoenix Movement team all work from the same results, so the advice you get points the same way.

Where medical oversight fits

Weight is rarely just about food and exercise. Thyroid function, blood sugar, hormones, mood and the medications you already take can all make weight harder to shift. Some of these only show up in a blood test or a proper medical history.

That is why a GP leads every weight management plan at Phoenix. Before anything changes, your GP looks at the full picture: your history, your results, any conditions that need attention and anything that might be working against you.

Your GP then stays involved, reviewing your progress at set points and adjusting the plan as your results change. If you take medication for blood pressure or blood sugar, for example, those doses may need to be reviewed as your weight and habits change. Having a doctor in the team helps make sure that is picked up and managed.

Many people also ask about weight management medication when they first come in. Because Phoenix is GP-led, it can be considered where it is clinically indicated. For some people it can be a useful part of a plan. It is never the whole plan.

Whether it is appropriate is a clinical decision made with your GP, based on your history, results, goals and any risks. For many people, the right answer is to start with nutrition and strength first. Medication also has trade-offs. Side effects are common, particularly early on, and some people regain weight after stopping. That is why what you build alongside it matters.

Changing your normal

Dietitian Sally Livock has spent more than 30 years helping people step off the cycle of short-term dieting.

“You have to change your normal,” Sally says. “If your normal isn't working, you can't keep coming back to it and expect a different result.”

For one person that might mean more protein. For another it is eating more regularly, more fibre or simply drinking more water. The best changes are not always the biggest ones. They are the ones that stick.

“We're not looking for something you can do for six weeks,” she says. “We're looking for something you can do for the rest of your life.”

Why strength matters

If there is one part of weight management people underestimate, it is resistance training.

When weight comes off, the aim is for it to come mostly from fat, not muscle. Muscle supports blood sugar regulation, joint health, balance and the ability to keep doing the things you enjoy.

“A lot of the time there isn't a real understanding of how important it is to maintain muscle mass,” says Angela Saville, Head of Movement at Phoenix. “The only way we can hold on to that muscle is through strength training and our nutrition.”

You do not need gym experience. Programs are set from your assessment and progressed at a pace that suits you. Repeat DEXA scans then show what is actually changing in muscle and fat, rather than relying on the scales.

Phoenix Momentum12

Not everyone is ready to commit to 12 months straight away. Phoenix Momentum12 is a 12-week, GP-led program that brings medical, nutrition and movement support together as a structured first step. You can join directly, and your clinical team will confirm it suits you before you enrol.

What your 12 weeks look like

From your initial assessments to your week-12 review. Your team will confirm appointment dates with you.

Any decision about medication is made clinically with your GP, not as part of a package. Your first week of gym membership is included, and ongoing membership is separate.

The founding intake starts on Monday 9 November 2026. The team can take you through the full appointment schedule and fees.

“It's not a quick fix and it's not a three-month project,” Angela says. “It's about building the habits, behaviours, routines and movement you can maintain for life.”

Talk to the team

To find out whether Momentum12 or the 12-month weight management program suits you, call the team on 02 4250 7373.

Medicare rebates apply only to eligible GP consultations. Medication is prescribed only where clinically appropriate, and prescription costs are not included in program fees.