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A robust, weight management service should:
- be based on best evidence, where ever possible
- deliver a desired outcome for the user that will improve health
- be cost effective to the PCT or user
- be supported by primary care staff, particularly GPs.
Read more: A patient led NHS
We suggest that a weight management service should/ could encompass the following (this list is not definitive, but is offered as a suggestion, based on our experience):
Read more: Service ideals and practical suggestions
This grouping encompasses a number of conditions for which weight loss is the primary treatment, these include:
Read more: Referral from Tertiary care back to Primary Care
It is preferable to use a qualitative tool to assess if the patient is ready to lose weight. The following tool is based on the work of Prochaska and Diclemente and has been used by the CounterWeight Programme.
Read more: Patient motivation - readiness to change
Primary prevention of chronic disease is a priority, rather than waiting for a coronary event to occur or type II diabetes to develop. Identification of candidates for chronic disease by increased waist circumference, coupled with raised markers: BP; glucose; and cholesterol, and proactively treating obesity is essential.
Read more: Baseline data
Being overweight is usually a result of an imbalance in the energy taken in (food & drink) and energy used (activity). Typically this imbalance is only small (50-100 extra calories daily), but over time this adds up and leads to obesity.
Read more: Healthy Eating
Click Read More to see the Key messages
Read more: Healthy eating - key messages
There is a lot of, often contradictory, information out there about diets and healthy eating. For example, considering the Glycemic Index (GI) of a food can be useful in helping maintain consistent energy levels throughout the day (unfortunately this concept can be complicated).
Read more: Eat smart, shop smart, cook smart
Physical activity plays an important part in the prevention and management of obesity, but only if it is sustainable. Adherence to physical activity over the life course is the goal that patients and professionals should aim for. Following a short term programme will have limited effectiveness in long term weight management. Clients who increase their physical activity maintain their weight loss for longer.
Read more: Physical Activity
Reflection on how schemes incorporate characteristics of known effective interventions may help increase longer term adherence. Review level evidence of healthcare and community settings suggests that:
Read more: Keeping people active over time - what works?
Top tips for brief physical activity interventions
Read more: Physical activity interventions
After looking at baseline data, consider
Read more: Initial Review
Continue with review/monitoring cycle. If successful, review every 6 months. If unsuccessful, consider
Read more: Ongoing Review
A few key tips on what differentiates a successful weight management clinic:
Read more: Running a successful weight management clinic
Read more: At Risk
 Click here to open and view the NOF weight management protocol.
(Preconception to 18 years)
Siobhan Ahearne-Smith 18th March 2008
Background
Primary prevention should be the unequivocal first strategy for halting childhood obesity. Statistics from the UK National Child Measurement Programme (2006-07) indicate the prevalence of overweight/obese children at age 4-5 to be 22.9%. Amongst 10-11 year old children 31.6% were found overweight/obese.1The true picture of overweight/obese children may however be higher as these figures were based only on 80% participation and research results indicate that a proportion of children who may be overweight/obese may not have been included in the measurement process.1 Further emphasizing that there is an absolute requirement for an approach to primary prevention of child obesity are the disturbing predictions of the Government’s scientific expert committee, the FORESIGHT team, which predicts that, by 2050, 55% of boys could be overweight or obese and 70% of girls overweight or obese.2
Read more: An approach to Primary Prevention of Obesity in children and adolescents
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