Ask about suitability, practical commitments, uncertainty and follow-up for any option discussed.
Begin with what matters to you
Stela’s homepage describes lifestyle support, dietitian care and medical options, and says other medicines and bariatric surgery can be discussed with a doctor. That is an invitation to a clinical discussion, not a promise that every option is available or suitable for every person.
Write down the decisions you want help with: the support you need, what you have tried, what concerns you and what you can sustain in everyday life. Include cost and appointment commitments from the beginning.
The Ministry of Health’s 2017 adult guidance describes food and drink, activity and behavioural strategies as components of weight management. This is historical background, not a substitute for an individual assessment or current prescribing guidance. See sources.
Compare the questions, not promised results
Food and routine support
What practical changes should we discuss? Would a dietitian appointment help with my specific food questions? How would the plan fit work, culture, preferences and budget?
Medical treatment
Is any medical treatment appropriate to consider? What are its risks, alternatives, costs and review requirements? What information is still needed before a decision?
A surgical discussion
Is a referral for specialist discussion relevant to my circumstances? Who would assess suitability, and what would the assessment and follow-up involve?
Stela’s service information supports a discussion of surgery with its doctor. It does not establish that Stela performs surgery or that a consultation guarantees access to it.
Bring your preferences into the decision
It is useful to explain where you feel uncertain. You can ask for more time or more explanation before agreeing to a next step.
- “I would like to understand what support is available if I do not want to discuss medication today.”
- “I want to know how this option would fit with advice from my usual GP.”
- “The ongoing cost matters to me. Can we include that in the discussion?”
- “What should I understand about risks and follow-up before deciding?”
- “What would we do if the plan did not suit me?”
These prompts do not rank treatments. The clinical team should discuss what is relevant after considering your health and circumstances.
Confirm the review plan before you leave
Ask what happens next, what needs to be arranged and when you will review the decision. If further assessment, records or tests are needed, find out who will arrange them.
If a medicine becomes part of your plan, follow the instructions of your prescriber. Health New Zealand’s information on injected weight-loss medicines emphasises using them exactly as directed by the healthcare provider. This guide offers no dose or medicine-selection advice.
You can use our budget checklist to record outstanding cost questions, and the follow-up guide to prepare for a later review.
General information only. Your health history and circumstances need an individual clinical assessment. This guide does not promise eligibility, a prescription or a particular outcome.
Sources and further reading
- Stela: services, team and fees
- Ministry of Health: adult weight-management guidance, 2017 (PDF)
- Health New Zealand: injected weight-loss medicines
Public sources checked on 30 September 2026. Where cited, the Ministry’s 2017 guidance is historical background. Clinic arrangements should be confirmed when booking.
Have an individual clinical discussion
Begin Stela’s assessment or ask the clinic which appointment suits the questions you want to explore.
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