Doctor-Led Medical Weight Loss In Wigram, Christchurch

If you have spent years cycling through restrictive diets, intense exercise regimes, and temporary weight loss only to watch the weight return, you are not alone.

At 1Health Medical Centre in Wigram, we treat weight management as a complex metabolic condition—not a personal failure of willpower. Modern medical science has shifted the paradigm: by using evidence-based prescription medications alongside dedicated doctor monitoring, we can help turn down constant food cravings, reset your metabolic baseline, and achieve safe, sustainable fat loss.

How Medical Weight Loss Works: Quieting The "Food Noise"

For many people, the hardest part of losing weight is the constant, intrusive mental chatter around food—often called "food noise."

New-generation weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists, work by mimicking the natural satiety hormones your body releases after a meal.

• Slows Gastric Emptying: Food stays in your stomach longer, helping you feel satisfied faster and stay full on smaller portions.

• Reduces Central Cravings: Targets the appetite centres in the brain to quieten constant thoughts about food and reduce emotional eating or late-night snacking.



• Creates A Sustainable Deficit: Allows you to maintain a healthy calorie deficit comfortably, without the overwhelming hunger pangs that typically cause diets to fail.

Evidence-Based Prescription Options Available In New Zealand

During your initial medical assessment, Dr Bernard Teo and our GP team evaluate your health history, current medications, and personal goals to determine the most effective treatment plan for your body.

Important Prescription & Cost Note: In New Zealand, modern weight loss medications like Wegovy, Saxenda, and Contrave are currently unfunded (user-pays). During your consultation, we provide complete, transparent pricing for both our clinical care fees and the ongoing monthly pharmacy medication costs so there are never any surprises.

The 1Health Difference: Avoiding The "Muscle Trap"

Many online subscription services simply mail out prescriptions without clinical oversight. At 1Health, we believe that is a recipe for long-term metabolic damage.

Rapid weight loss without proper monitoring can lead to sarcopenia—the dangerous loss of lean muscle tissue alongside fat. Losing muscle drops your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), setting you up for the classic "yo-yo" effect where you regain the weight as soon as medication stops.

Our Clinical Safety & Body Composition Protocol

Medical-Grade Tanita Scanning: Before starting any medication, we complete a baseline scan on our Tanita MC-780MA Segmental Body Composition Analyser. This gives us an exact measurement of your muscle mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat rating, and hydration levels.

Targeted Muscle Retention: We track your body composition metrics throughout your journey to ensure you are dropping visceral fat while protecting your active muscle mass.

Nutritional & Protein Support: Our clinical team adjusts your protein intake and activity guidelines to keep your metabolism strong and healthy for the long term.

Are You Eligible For Medical Weight Loss?

Medical weight management is a structured clinical intervention designed for long-term health improvements rather than quick aesthetic fixes.

You may qualify for a prescription weight loss plan if:

• You have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher (Classified as Obese).

• You have a BMI of 27 or higher accompanied by weight-related health conditions (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, or sleep apnoea).

• You have a history of chronic "yo-yo" dieting, metabolic resistance, or persistent, unmanageable food cravings.



What To Expect At Your Consultation

Your weight loss journey at our Wigram clinic is supportive, unhurried, and completely judgment-free:

Initial Clinical Assessment: Detailed review of your medical history, current medications, past weight loss efforts, and cardiovascular risk.

Baseline Diagnostics & Bloods: Blood pressure checks, baseline laboratory blood testing (if required), and your comprehensive Tanita body composition scan.

Personalised Prescription Plan: Selecting the right medication for your health profile, lifestyle, and budget.

Ongoing Clinical Monitoring: Regular check-ins with our medical team to monitor progress, manage any initial side effects, re-scan body composition, and adjust dosages safely.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Weight Loss

How Much Weight Can I Expect To Lose?

Clinical trials for modern GLP-1 treatments show average weight losses of 10% to 15% (or more) of total body weight when combined with healthy lifestyle choices. Individual results vary depending on starting weight, medication type, and adherence.

How Much Do Weight Loss Medications Cost In NZ?

Because these medications are not currently funded by PHARMAC, pharmacy retail costs generally range between $250 and $500+ per month depending on the specific medication and dosage required. We discuss all costs upfront during your initial consultation.

Do I Need To Be Enrolled At 1Health Doctors?

No. We welcome both enrolled patients and casual visitors from across Wigram, Halswell, Hornby, and wider Christchurch for our specialized medical weight loss consultations.

What Happens When I Reach My Target Weight?

Weight management is a long-term health journey. Once you reach a healthy weight, our doctors work with you on a maintenance strategy, which may involve gradually tapering your medication while preserving your habits, muscle mass, and new metabolic baseline.

Take The First Step Toward Sustainable Health

Stop struggling with restrictive diets alone. Partner with Dr Bernard Teo and the medical team at 1Health Doctors for evidence-based, supportive weight management in Christchurch.

[BOOK YOUR WEIGHT LOSS CONSULTATION]

Call Our Clinic: 03 662 9309

Visit Us: 1Health Medical Centre, Wigram, Christchurch