Osteoarthritis is degenerative arthritis where the core components of joints (cartilage, bone, ligaments and muscles) all worsen over time.
There is no need to feel helpless. You can take action to reduce pain and increase your mobility through our weight management program.
Experts have known for a long time that weight loss is effective for the treatment of osteoarthritis. A World Health Organization report on obesity in 1999 said that even modest weight loss of up to 10% can “alleviate” osteoarthritis, back and joint pain.*
* World Health Organization, Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic pg. 70
Healthy Weight for Life Osteoarthritis program on RBHS Gold Hospital cover
RBHS covers the full cost of a proven 18-week osteoarthritis program called Healthy Weight for Life.
Healthy Weight for Life is included (that is free with no extra cost to participate) on our Gold Hospital cover.
The waiting period to receive this program is 2 months of continuous cover. Your premiums need to be paid up to date before you can claim these programs.
Despite the name, it is not just about weight loss.
Healthy Weight for Life improves:
- joints and your mobility through muscle strengthening
- stiffness through gentle exercise
- pain management – a crucial skillset to help you sustain a better quality of life
Participants in the program can:
- receive support over the phone, SMS and online
- reduce weight
- improve nutrition
- improve metabolism, energy levels and other health indicators
- improve fitness
- learn useful ways to keep on top of your condition
- increase their motivation to take care of their health
The program offers:
- portion control eating plan
- meal replacement options
- tips to improve your fitness and assist with weight loss
- personalised tracking to help you succeed
- support and advice via phone, email and an online portal
- education on understanding your condition and how to enhance your quality of life
Healthy Weight for Life provides a specialised, multidisciplinary team of pharmacists, dietitians, occupational therapists, nurses and program navigators who all work together to ensure you are supported and feel confident as you progress through the 18 weeks of the program. The program takes a phased approach so that you can ease into it. Below we outline the program’s phases.
Phases of the program
| Food | Exercise |
|
Get started with some meal replacement options such as KicStart Shakes and KicStart Soups for breakfast and lunch so that you can get on the right nutrition path without having to get handy in the kitchen for each meal. You can add some suggested sides such as berries and salads. For dinner, you’ll need to head to the kitchen to prep some healthy, filling food from the meal plan – meat and three veg is an option, so most people should adapt nicely. |
Build up to 30 minutes per day of gentle daily activity like walking, swimming or cycling by the end of this phase. |
| Food | Exercise |
| Add planned lunch and snacks to your daily intake. | Increase time to at least 30 minutes per day and intensity (if possible) to continue weight loss. |
| Food | Exercise |
| All meals are planned. Supplement shakes and soups are no longer eaten. |
Sustain exercise so that it can continue when the program finishes. Participants can use a steps tracker to keep on top of their 10,000 steps. |
Want to join?
You can join the program if you have a:
- diagnosis of osteoarthritis
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 28
AND
- Your GP approves and completes an approval form
To get a GP approval form, enter in your details to our Ask our program experts form. Or you can email or call us!
We won’t have any access to the personal health info you give to Prima Health Solutions. If you’d like to read our Privacy Policy to make sure, click here.
Need more information? Ask our health program experts.
You can also call us on 1800 027 299 or email info@myrbhs.com.au and we can help.
Osteoarthritis help on RBHS Premium Extras cover^
Getting hands-on help?
- You can claim part of the cost of physiotherapy and exercise physiology (the latter is under ‘Complementary Therapies’).
- Plus, if your GP or other health professional declares you have a health condition, you might be able to claim certain other treatment costs as part of a treatment plan, such as benefits for fitness programs if you have a condition requiring a health management plan. There is a whole collection of things claimable in such cases, including gym memberships, pool sessions etc.
- You can also claim part of the cost on dietetics as well as things like remedial massage and acupuncture.
^ Two-month waiting periods apply before joining this cover and claiming (unless you switch within 60 days from an extras cover with these benefits where no waiting period would apply).