Three Years of Enlighten Me: From One GP’s Vision to a National Movement

Three years ago, on 7 November 2022, Enlighten Me quietly launched into the world – the product of one GP’s determination to do things differently.

At the time, Dr. Angela Kwong was working in general practice, seeing an increasing number of patients asking for help with weight management. Yet, despite her best intentions, she often felt limited by what was available to offer: a prescription, a referral, and a brief consultation that never quite felt like enough.

The timing coincided with the pandemic – a moment that changed how Australians approached healthcare. Telehealth had suddenly become not just accepted, but appreciated. Patients valued the accessibility, the comfort of being cared for from their own home, and the ability to connect with their doctor without compromise.

And that sparked an idea.

Dr. Angela had long dreamed of building a multidisciplinary bariatric clinic – a space where medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle support worked hand in hand. But as a solo GP, the financial and logistical barriers were high. What she did have, however, was knowledge, drive, and a belief that evidence-based, doctor-led care could be delivered differently.

So she began to build what would become the Enlighten Me Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program – an accessible, online program that combined medical supervision with structured nutrition, exercise guidance, and lifestyle coaching.

It wasn’t about fad diets or fast fixes. It was about bringing integrity, empathy, and clinical excellence to a space that deeply needed it.

A Program That Grew by Word of Mouth

Initially, Enlighten Me was meant to be a side project – an opportunity for Dr. Angela to practise her subspecialty interest in obesity management while continuing her work as a full-time GP, supervising GP registrars, and advocacy work and peer support to fellow doctors in her role as RACGP NSW State Lead for Obesity Management.

But something extraordinary happened.

Patients began to share their experiences. Not just about the weight they were losing, but about the life they were regaining.

Underlying medical conditions began to improve. Confidence returned. Energy levels rose. People felt supported – truly supported – for the first time.

They spoke about what it meant to have a GP who could safely prescribe medications, balance comorbidities, and help them navigate each stage of the process. They spoke about the difference that weekly, practical coaching in nutrition and exercise made – not just being told what to do, but being shown how to make changes that lasted.

And as their stories spread, the program grew – organically, sustainably, and entirely by word of mouth. Month after month, Enlighten Me ran close to capacity, yet remained deliberately boutique – ensuring that every patient received the attention and continuity of care they deserved.

Doctor-Led, Patient-Designed: The Birth of the Enlighten Me Shake

Within the first year, a new challenge emerged.

Many patients taking GLP-1 medications were experiencing side effects – nausea, bloating, reflux – and struggling to meet their daily protein and nutrient needs.

Rather than accepting this as “just part of the process”, Dr. Angela went back to the drawing board. She experimented with dose titration, softer protein sources, and supplementation – but the solution she landed on would soon become its own success story.

The result was the Enlighten Me Shake – a high-protein, low-carbohydrate meal replacement that is FODMAP Friendly certified, rich in prebiotics, probiotics, and daily greens.

Designed collaboratively with patients who trialled, tasted, and refined the formula, it became a product built by the people it was made for.

What began as a shake designed for patients using GLP-1 medications soon attracted a wider audience:

• Women navigating perimenopause, looking for a clean, high-protein option.
• Patients with diabetes, seeking stable blood sugar support.
• Athletes and busy professionals, wanting a gut-friendly shake without fillers or artificial sweeteners.

The first production run sold out in months – as repeat customers bought bundles, health professionals began recommending it to their own patients, and multiple stockists wanted to come on board.

Today, the Enlighten Me Shake is stocked nationally – in pharmacies, medical centres, dietitian practices, menopause clinics, and gyms – a testament to staying true to the brand’s values of clinical integrity, quality, and transparency.

Three Years On – Staying True to Our Values

Unlike many companies driven by profit or trend, Enlighten Me remains guided by its founding principle: decisions made by clinicians, for patients.

This means the program remains purposefully small, the product range carefully curated, and every initiative designed to deliver real care – not hype.

The current team has grown to seven –
- three GPs with a special interest in obesity management,
- a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, and two dedicated support staff –
each playing a vital role in helping patients achieve sustainable, whole-person health.

Every recipe created, every shake formulated, every piece of education shared – reflects the same philosophy: do it well, do it honestly, and do it for the right reasons.

Our Sincere Thanks

As we celebrate three years of Enlighten Me, we’re filled with gratitude.

To our patients, who trusted us to guide them through one of life’s most personal journeys.

To our stockists and professional partners, who believed in our products and our purpose.

To our mentors, peers, and colleagues, who encouraged innovation and collaboration.

And to our incredible team, whose compassion and professionalism define everything Enlighten Me stands for.

Thank you for being part of this journey – for sharing in our vision of doctor-led, evidence-based, stigma-free weight management that empowers, educates, and uplifts.

Here’s to the next chapter.
Here’s to growth that feels good – inside and out.
Here’s to Enlighten Me.