Obesity

The challenge of obesity management involves impacting on the environment, public health, personal responsibility and clinical approaches to prevention and treatment. Understanding is key to combining evidence-based practice, attitudinal awareness to ensure the patient's viewpoint is understood plus knowledge of local services, to ensure supportive care is available to all. Please find below a range of obesity resources.

Guidelines

Healthy diet advice

• Adult and child healthy eating policy information - Department of Health link to official guidance and case studies
• NICE Pathways (Diet)
• NICE Pathways (Physical activity)
• NICE Pathways (Obesity: working with local communities)
• NICE Guidance CG189 (Obesity: identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in children, young people and adults)
• NICE Obesity and diet-related guidance
• Scottish Intercollegiate Network SIGN guidelines Management of obesity
• Preventing overweight and obesity. A route map towards healthy weight - Scotland’s Obesity strategy
• NHS Evidence (diet and nutrition)
• NHS Evidence (obesity)
• Action on obesity - RCP report on how the NHS can gear up to tackle obesity
• Measuring Up - AoMRC 10 point plan for collaborative action on  obesity

Research

• The Foresight report - The now famous report containing the ‘Foresight Map’ outlining the complexity of solutions required
• Cochrane Library - A better link would be directly to the metabolic and endocrine page rather than their landing index page
• Motivational interviewing - BMJ article on how Motivational Interviewing techniques improve effectiveness of giving lifestyle advice

Population measurements

• Health survey for England - NHS Surveys and data sets on an array of health indicators including weight
• National diet and nutrition survey - Annual survey on current dietary trends
• Commercial weight management groups Weight Watchers and Slimming World - Evidence-based commercial weight loss organisations
• BMI calculator (adults and children)
• UK 2-18 year growth charts - Access the full array of growth charts plus training on how to use them

Resources

• Top Ten Tips Raising the Topic of Weight (Online Version) - Get discussions about weight off to a good start
• Top Ten Tips Raising the Topic of Weight (Print Version) [PDF]
• Top ten tips for management of patients post bariatric surgery in primary care - summary [PDF] - Quick summary of management issues after bariatric surgery
• Top ten tips for management of patients post bariatric surgery in primary care - extended [PDF] - Comprehensive advice on long-term management after bariatric surgery
• Primary care management of post operative bariatric patients image - Flow chart of post-operative concerns after bariatric surgery
• RCGP Audit Tool for Managing Patients Post Bariatric Surgery in Primary Care - Audit tool to assess follow up after bariatric surgery

RCGP Introductory Certificate in Obesity, Malnutrition and Health

The RCGP Introductory Certificate in Obesity Malnutrition and Health is a self-directed learning package suitable for individual learning or small group cascade training. It involves completion of the 6 e-learning modules plus attendance at hands-on practical sessions based on the accompanying interactive workbook and slide set. This can be run locally in small groups with or without specialist input.  For further information about hosting local training courses contact Rachel Pryke through Clinical Innovation and Research Centre circ@rcgp.org.uk or  at primarycareobesitytraining@gmail.com or via https://primarycareobesitytraining.wordpress.com/

• Introductory Certificate in Obesity, Malnutrition and Health Workbook 
• RCGP e-Learning topics 

Education

• Childhood eating behaviour training  - Access to HENRY child obesity training
• Association for Nutrition - Information and training for Registered Nutritionists
• UK Health Forum - Group supporting health policy development
• University of Surrey Postgraduate course in nutritional medicine - Masters level training in nutrition
• University of Reading Certificate in obesity management - 4 day training course in obesity

 Patient information

• Basics of healthy eating and diet advice - NHS Choices healthy eating information
• Mealtime Magic a leaflet for parents about establishing healthy eating in young children  - Evidence-based advice on how to establish healthy eating behaviours
• Waist circumference guidelines - Why waist circumference matters
• British Heart Foundation diet information - Comprehensive dietary advice for healthy hearts
• NHS Live well 12 week weight loss plan - Structured self-help programme for adults
• Change 4 Life - First-line parent-friendly hints and tips for families
• Health and Weight - Young people's experience