Obesity is widely misunderstood as being solely a result of poor diet or lifestyle, despite impacting two in three Australians.
It is a complex issue, yet stigma and shame are commonplace and can prevent people accessing care.
Wendy Manuell has experienced challenges with her weight for as long as she can remember.
The 74-year-old says she has often been dismissed by health professionals and family members who told her to "eat a bit less" without looking further into the causes.
"I firmly believe there isn't an easy fix for being overweight and I think the term 'obese' is quite degrading and rude," she told AAP.
"I never felt supported by doctors back in the day because in the '70s and '80s doctors assumed every overweight person was overweight because they over-ate or ate the wrong food ... being overweight wasn't regarded as a disease."
Ms Manuell eventually decided to explore surgery and had a gastric band operation 15 years ago.
While the results were initially great, severe reflux led her to reverse the operation.
"I lead a reasonably busy life and I try to keep fit and healthy ... these days there are many weight-loss options so if one thing doesn't work, you can try something else," she said.
Obesity is a chronic disease and as such there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach, according to specialist Georgia Rigas.
Dr Rigas leads the bariatric unit at St George Private Hospital and is passionate about helping patients feel empowered and supported through their weight management journey.
"Like with other chronic diseases, if patients are educated and understand their condition, they are better able to manage their symptoms," she said.
"People living with obesity are less likely to participate in other preventative management tests such as pap smears and other screenings due to shame and stigma about their weight, so they often present at later stages of a disease that could have been treated earlier."
Women are more likely than men to explore surgery, often when they are at child-bearing age and wanting to conceive.
A personalised approach was needed for every patient, regardless of why they were contemplating a procedure, Dr Rigas said.
"You have to look at what someone has tried in the past because most people living with obesity have tried four to six serious weight loss attempts before consulting a surgeon," she said.
"Part of a personally tailored approach is looking at their history, medications, lifestyle and making sure they are nutritionally as well as they can be."
There are certain life stages where people can be more susceptible to weight gain including puberty, leaving home as a young adult, pregnancy and postpartum and menopause.
Unique challenges for women include hormonal changes, being more likely to have caregiving duties and societal pressure around what their bodies "should" look like.
"I really encourage people to have the conversation with their doctor so they can access the treatment they need and deserve," Dr Rigas said.
"If a doctor doesn't seem to understand or doesn't treat you with the respect you deserve, don't give up, try to find another health professional who will listen."
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Butterfly Foundation 1800 334 673
