We aimed to describe the current state of specialist obesity services for adults with clinically severe obesity in public hospitals in Australia, and to analyse the gap in resources based on expert consensus. We conducted two surveys to collect information about current and required specialist obesity services and resources using open-ended questionnaires. Organizational level data were sought from clinician expert representatives of specialist obesity services across Australia in 2017. Fifteen of 16 representatives of current services in New South Wales (n = 8), Queensland (n = 1), Victoria (n = 2), South Australia (n = 3), and the Australian Capital Territory (n = 1) provided data. The composition of services varied substantially between hospitals, and patient access to services and effective treatments were limited by strict entry criteria (e.g. body mass index 40 kg/m or higher with specific complication/s), prolonged wait times, geographical location (major cities only) and out-of-pocket costs. Of these services, 47% had a multidisciplinary team (MDT), 53% had an exercise physiologist/physiotherapist, 53% had a bariatric surgeon and 33% had pharmacotherapy resources. Key gaps included staffing components of the MDT (psychologist, exercise physiologist/physiotherapist) and access to publicly funded weight loss pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery. There was consensus on the need for significant improvements in staff, physical infrastructure, access to services, education/training in obesity medicine and targeted research funding. Based on the small number of existing, often under-resourced specialist obesity services that are located only in a few major cities, the vast majority of Australians with clinically severe obesity cannot access the specialist evidence based treatments needed.

Iron-induced hypophosphataemic osteomalacia remains under-recognized as a potential complication of parenteral iron therapy. We here report two cases of symptomatic hypophosphataemic osteomalacia with multiple insufficiency fractures in the context of chronic gastrointestinal blood loss, necessitating monthly iron polymaltose infusions over prolonged periods of time. Respective blood tests revealed severe hypophosphataemia [0.29 and 0.43; normal range (NR) 0.8-1.5 mmol/l] in the presence of normal serum calcium and 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. Urinary fractional phosphate excretion was elevated (16% and 24%; NR < 5%) and the tubular maximum phosphate reabsorption was reduced, consistent with renal phosphate wasting. Serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) obtained in one patient was significantly elevated at 285 pg/ml (NR < 54 pg/ml). Bone mineral density was significantly reduced and whole-body bone scans revealed metabolic bone disease and multiple insufficiency fractures consistent with osteomalacia. Cessation of iron infusions resulted in clinical and biochemical improvement within 2 months in one patient whereas the second patient required phosphate and calcitriol supplementation to improve symptomatically. Iron-induced hypophosphataemic osteomalacia is thought to be due to reduced degradation of FGF23, resulting in phosphaturia and reduced synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. Monitoring of patients on long-term parenteral iron is recommended to avoid clinically serious adverse effects.

Introduction. Obesity and diabetes are difficult to treat in public clinics. We sought to determine the effectiveness of the Metabolic Rehabilitation Program (MRP) in achieving long-term weight loss and improving glycaemic control versus “best practice” diabetes clinic (DC) in obese patients using a retrospective cohort study. Methods. Patients with diabetes and BMI > 30 kg/m2 who attended the MRP, which consisted of supervised exercise and intense allied health integration, or the DC were selected. Primary outcomes were improvements in weight and glycaemia with secondary outcomes of improvements in blood pressure and lipid profile at 12 and 30 months. Results. Baseline characteristics of both cohorts (40 MRP and 40 DC patients) were similar at baseline other than age (63 in MRP versus 68 years in DC, P = 0.002). At 12 months, MRP patients lost 7.65 ± 1.74 kg versus 1.76 ± 2.60 kg in the DC group (P < 0.0001) and 9.70 ± 2.13 kg versus 0.98 ± 2.65 kg at 30 months (P < 0.0001). Similarly, MRP patients had significant absolute reductions in %HbA1c at 30 months versus the DC group (−0.86 ± 0.31% versus 0.12% ± 0.33%, P < 0.038), with nonsignificant improvements in lipids and blood pressure in MRP patients. Conclusion. Further research is needed to establish the MRP as an effective strategy for achieving sustained weight loss and improving glycaemic control in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.