Looking Ahead with ANZMOSS President Dr Jason Free
As Dr Jason Free begins his two-year term as President of the Australian & New Zealand Metabolic Obesity Surgical Society (ANZMOSS), he shares his priorities for the Society and his thoughts on the changing landscape of obesity treatment.
Obesity care is changing.
The increasing availability of medical therapies, continued advances in metabolic and bariatric surgery and a growing understanding of obesity as a complex, chronic disease are changing the way healthcare professionals approach its treatment.
For Dr Jason Free, who has recently begun his two-year term as President of ANZMOSS, this changing landscape presents challenges for the profession — but also an opportunity to rethink how obesity care is discussed and delivered.
Having served on the ANZMOSS Board since 2020 and been involved in convening the Society’s annual conference over the past two years, Dr Free says one of his priorities as President will be ensuring the Society continues to support its members while strengthening education, collaboration and advocacy across the profession.
Looking beyond weight loss
One of the conversations Dr Free would like to see change is the way obesity treatment is communicated to both the community and healthcare professionals.
Rather than focusing on weight loss alone, he believes there needs to be greater recognition of obesity as a chronic disease and consideration of the broader health conditions that may be associated with it.
“We need to rethink how we talk about obesity treatment. The conversation needs to go beyond weight loss alone and consider obesity, its associated health conditions and the range of treatments available.”
For some people, treatment may involve lifestyle and nutritional support. For others, medical therapies may be considered. Metabolic and bariatric surgery may also be an appropriate option for selected patients following comprehensive assessment.
Rather than viewing these approaches as competing treatments, Dr Free believes there is an opportunity to strengthen a more integrated model of obesity care.
Medical therapies are changing the landscape
The growing role of obesity medications has significantly changed the treatment landscape and, according to Dr Free, should be viewed as another important component of obesity management rather than simply as competition for surgery.
Different treatments have different roles, and not every option will be appropriate for every patient.
This is where multidisciplinary care becomes particularly important.
A comprehensive approach may involve GPs, bariatric surgeons, medical practitioners, dietitians, psychologists and other healthcare professionals working together to assess an individual’s health, discuss available options and provide ongoing support.
For patients, this means the conversation does not necessarily need to begin with the question, “Do I need medication or surgery?”
Instead, it can begin with a broader question: “What treatment options are appropriate for my health and circumstances?”
Strengthening connections with GPs
Greater engagement with GPs and the wider healthcare community is another area Dr Free hopes to strengthen during his presidency.
ANZMOSS has begun increasing its presence at GP conferences, events and professional meetings, with the aim of improving understanding of metabolic and bariatric surgery and its place within comprehensive obesity care.
Dr Free believes primary care has an important role in recognising and managing obesity, while collaboration between GPs and dedicated metabolic and weight management services can help patients understand the full range of treatments that may be available to them.
“This isn’t about competing with GPs or other healthcare professionals. It is about demonstrating the value of multidisciplinary obesity care and ensuring patients have access to the full range of appropriate treatments, including lifestyle intervention, medications and surgery.”
Supporting the next generation
The changing treatment landscape also presents challenges for the surgical profession.
Changes in metabolic and bariatric surgical case numbers have implications not only for established surgeons and practices, but also for surgical education and the training of future bariatric surgeons.
Dr Free has a longstanding interest in surgical education, training and mentoring and believes supporting the next generation will remain an important part of ANZMOSS’s role.
International collaboration will also form part of that conversation.
Dr Free has recently met with colleagues internationally to discuss the changes being experienced within metabolic and bariatric surgery and the approaches being taken in different countries.
Sharing research, clinical experience and ideas across borders, he believes, can help the profession respond to change while continuing to develop obesity care.
The next two years
For Dr Free, the priorities for his term as ANZMOSS President come back to four key areas: advocacy, education, training and engagement.
He wants the Society to continue representing the interests of its members while encouraging greater collaboration between surgeons, GPs, multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and international colleagues.
Most importantly, he believes the conversation around obesity needs to continue moving forward.
“I see this role as an opportunity to work on behalf of our membership and strengthen the Society for the benefit of all of us.”
As medical and surgical treatments continue to develop, the goal is not to position one treatment against another, but to better understand where each may fit within comprehensive, individualised obesity care.
For patients, that means having access to reliable information, appropriate assessment and a range of treatment options to support informed decisions about their health.
Dr Jason Free is a Specialist General, Weight Loss and Hepatobiliary Surgeon based on the Gold Coast and President of the Australian & New Zealand Metabolic Obesity Surgical Society (ANZMOSS).
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At Surgery Gold Coast, patients can access both medical and surgical weight management options, supported by a multidisciplinary team.
To learn more about weight management options at Surgery Gold Coast, contact our team on (07) 5564 6501 or explore our website.
All surgical procedures carry risks. A second opinion from a qualified health practitioner is recommended. Individual results vary. This information is general and does not replace personalised medical advice.