Current challenges and strategies for managing overweight and obesity in primary care: Free NSW Health prevention services, programs, and information for GPs managing people at risk of chronic disease
On-demand recorded 23 Jun 2026
Obesity has now overtaken tobacco as Australia’s leading modifiable risk factor for disease. It contributes to a wide range of chronic conditions and affects mental health, quality of life, and social wellbeing.
Early intervention and effective management can significantly reduce long-term health risks. GPs are often the first and most frequent point of contact for people living with overweight and obesity.
The Centre for Population Health offers a suite of free statewide evidence-based prevention services and resources to keep people healthy and well across the life course. The services and resources relevant to general practice are Go4Fun, the Get Healthy Service, and Active & Healthy. Go4Fun and the Get Healthy Service provide tailored health coaching to support better nutrition, increased physical activity, and healthy behaviour change between GP visits. They’re designed to complement the clinical care you already provide and help your patients work toward their health goals.
This webinar will showcase how Go4Fun and the Get Healthy Service empowers patients through practical, personalised coaching, while also introducing the full range of Healthy Eating Active Living programs and resources that are available.
This recording discusses:
- Practical ways to start conversations about weight respectfully
- How to screen and assess efficiently within routine consults
- How to set shared, achievable goals and review progress over time
- How to integrate evidence-based lifestyle advice and health coaching into overweight and obesity management
- How statewide health coaching services can support patients between visits.
By the end of the recording, you will feel more confident and better equipped to refer your patients to free healthy lifestyle programs that complement your clinical care for people living with overweight and obesity.
Learning outcomes
- Review the evidence that tailored health coaching can support people to change health behaviours and reduce chronic disease risk.
- Develop successful strategies to integrate overweight and obesity care into general practice that is patient-led, leveraging care pathways, and supports.
- Describe how the Get Healthy Service and other NSW Health prevention programs can enhance your clinical care at different stages of the life course and how to refer.
Presenters
Dr Miriam Grotowski
Acting Clinical Dean, Peel Rural Clinical School
Dr Miriam Grotowski is an accomplished medical professional with a rich history of dedication to both rural medical practice and medical education spanning more than 30 years. Dr Grotowski currently serves as Acting Clinical Dean of the Peel Rural Clinical School within the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health. Dr Grotowski also works as a General Practitioner in Tamworth and is a VMO at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital. She has been a Fellow of the RACGP for more than 30 years and was awarded Life Membership in 2024. She has a Diploma in Psychiatry (in eating disorders), having worked in this space for over 25 years. Miriam’s other interest, medical education, extends to mentoring and supervising medical students, junior doctors, GP registrars and supporting Continuing Professional Development for practicing GPs.
For a full bio: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/miriam-grotowski
Dee Upton
Manager, Priority Populations, Centre for Population Health, NSW Health
Dee is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with over 15 years’ experience across NSW Health, spanning clinical practice, prevention, healthy ageing, and statewide program leadership. With clinical experience across acute, outpatient, and community settings, Dee has worked with older adults and people with chronic disease. Their work brings together clinical experience, population health, and system level program design, with a strong focus on equity, safety, and evidence based care. Dee currently manages statewide prevention programs, including healthy ageing and Aboriginal healthy eating and active living initiatives, supporting culturally safe, community led approaches aligned with NSW Health priorities.