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.

Visit the RCGP Obesity hub which includes webinars, podcasts and eLearning courses.

Guidelines

Healthy eating guidelines

• Adult and child healthy eating policy information - Department of Health link to official guidance and case studies
• NICE adult pathways
• 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

Education

• Childhood eating behaviour training  - Access to HENRY child obesity training
• Association for Nutrition - Information and training for Registered Nutritionists
• 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