Published: 08 May 2006
Practical Tools to Help Whittle Down Weight
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint has announced the publication of new practical tools for GPs and other health professionals to help patients lose weight and improve their health.
GPs and other healthcare workers are being given specific tools to help identify & treat children, young people and adults who are overweight or obese.
The Care pathway for the management of overweight and obesity is part of the Your Weight, Your Health series providing information to primary care practitioners on how they can tackle the subject of obesity & being overweight with patients.
The package of documents published includes:
· Adult Care Pathway (Primary Care)
· Children and Young People Care Pathway (Primary Care)
· Care pathway for the management of overweight and obesity
· Raising the issue of weight in adults
· Raising the issue of weight in children and young people
· Why weight matters
· Your weight your health: how to take control of your weight (A booklet for adults on safe and healthy weight loss. Includes how adults can help overweight children but is not intended for children
The Obesity Care Pathway booklet for health professionals explains how to best approach & advise patients about managing their weight. Diagrams and cards about raising the issue of weight to children and adults are also included.
The Your Weight, Your Health guide gives advice to patients on losing weight through changes to diet and physical activity.
The leaflet, Why Weight Matters has also been published for overweight or obese patients who are unsure about making the necessary changes to their lifestyles.
The government has also published -Measuring childhood obesity: Guidance to PCTs on data handling - which covers issues of data transfer, handling, analysis and feedback to PCTs
Caroline Flint said:
"Reducing obesity is a government priority and we have put in place a programme of action to support people in improving their health and losing weight.
Obesity has a major impact on people's health and can lead to Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Most people know they should eat more fruit & vegetables, and exercise more but sometimes people need a nudge in the right direction to get them on the road to improving their health.
GPs and other health professionals have a key role to play in this process.
They have the early opportunity to broach issues of overweight and obesity with their patients, and, if their patients have children, they can influence how parents deal with overweight children.
Parents have a huge influence on their children and health professionals have the chance to influence their patients.
But this isn't about telling people what to do. It's about supporting them in making changes to their lifestyles that will improve their health and the health of their children.
The booklets and information we have published today will give GPs the tools they need to approach the issue with patients and will give patients the information they need to take the first step towards better health."
Also launched was the joint Health, Education & Skills and Culture, Media & Sport departmental Obesity Bulletin, a new publication targeting obesity leads in primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, local authorities, regional government offices and other government departments with the latest developments & good practice in the Government's obesity programme.
Last week, the Prime Minister launched the Small Change BIG DIFFERENCE initiative which was intended to show people how they can improve their future health & wellbeing by making small, easily achievable changes to their lifestyles.
For example, getting off the bus a stop earlier or eating an extra piece of fruit or serving of vegetables a day.
The initiative is based on research which shows that even these small changes can start improving health and turn back the clock.
The Government has a public service agreement to halt the year on year increase in obesity amongst children under 11 by 2010.
Further information
Obesity Care Pathway and weight loss guide document package
DH Obesity website
Obesity Bulletin
Measuring childhood obesity: Guidance to PCTs on data handling
Weight wise
Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAPs)
Wired for Health
Related articles:
Small Change – Big Difference
NAO – Childhood Obesity
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