Frontline NHS staff enlisted in fight against flab
pharmafile | May 5, 2006 | News story | |Â Â Â
The nation's increasing weight is to become top priority for frontline NHS staff in an effort to halt the rise in obesity-related health problems.
Adult obesity rates in the UK have almost quadrupled in the last 25 years, with nearly one in four Britons obese and three-quarters overweight.
Meanwhile, in children, obesity has tripled in 20 years and the government is now determined to act to reduce the impact of resulting health problems, which include arthritis, heart disease and diabetes.
The new GP contract pays doctors to record obesity among its patients, and the government has now launched a new practical tool for all primary care health professionals to help patients lose weight and improve their health.
The 'care pathway' for the management of overweight and obesity is part of the Your Weight, Your Health series providing information to primary care professionals on how to tackle the subject of obesity and being overweight with their patients.
The series includes a self-help booklet, which gives patients information on how to lose weight by improving their better diet and exercise.
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint says: "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 II diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.
"Most people know they should eat more fruit and 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."
Other recent measures have been accused of government 'nannyism' but Flint said: "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."
A cross-departmental Obesity Bulletin has also been launched by the government, aimed at obesity leads in primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, local authorities, regional government offices and other government departments with the latest developments and good practice in the Government's obesity programme.
The Prime Minister recently launched the Small Change Big Difference initiative aimed at encouraging people to make small changes to their diet and exercise, which research shows could result in major improvements in health.
