In this practical webinar, Dr Lara Courtenay will explore what long-term care looks like for patients using weight-loss pharmacotherapy beyond the initial treatment year.
As medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro become increasingly familiar in New Zealand practice, clinicians are now facing important questions about maintenance: what does success look like in year two, can treatment be reduced, and what happens if a patient stops?
The session will reframe obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition and review current evidence on weight regain and cardiometabolic change after treatment withdrawal. It will also discuss emerging trial evidence on maintenance strategies, including continued treatment, dose reduction and cessation. The webinar will finish with practical guidance for patient conversations around long-term use, expectations, dose adjustment, stopping treatment and how to define meaningful health improvement beyond weight loss alone.
As always, we will answer as many questions as possible.
Presenter
Lara Courtenay
I am a New Zealand trained General Practitioner who has worked primarily as a Weight Loss Doctor at MacMurray Centre in Auckland since 2020. I most enjoy forming long term relationships with patients to help achieve physical and mental health improvements alongside their weight loss journey. Working at MacMurray Centre allows me to spend more time and energy focusing my General Practice capabilities and expertise on providing patients with a multi-disciplinary, well supported, patient-centred treatment plan including the latest non-invasive procedures and medications. I am also committed to continuous improvement through ongoing professional development and expanding my own personal interest in health and well-being.
