28.05.14
Realistic weight loss goals key to tackling obesity – NICE
Losing a small amount of weight, but most importantly helping prevent those pounds from coming back, can help improve the health of people who are overweight, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Its latest weight loss guidelines makes recommendations on the provision of effective multi-component lifestyle weight management services for adults who are overweight or obese (aged 18 and over). It also covers weight management programmes, courses, clubs or groups that aim to change someone's behaviour to reduce their energy intake and encourage them to be physically active.
The 61-page document, sent out to doctors and local authorities, says 12-week programmes costing £100 or less can be cost-effective for the NHS. And NICE added that people attending weight management programmes should look to make gradual, long-term changes to dietary habits and physical activity levels and aim to lose around 3% of their body weight, while avoiding ‘yo-yo’ dieting.
Gill Fine, independent public health nutritionist and chair of the group which developed the NICE guidance, said: “Obesity is one of the biggest health issues facing the UK. It's a complex problem with no single solution, but programmes which aim to help people manage their weight can make a difference.”
At the moment, the number of people who are overweight or obese in England is continuing to rise with more than a quarter of adults now classified as obese and a further 42% of men and a third of women classed are overweight, according to NICE statistics.
Fine added that the guidance has identified a number of practical recommendations to help people lose weight. These include setting realistic weight loss and weight maintenance goals, ensuring the programme is at least 12 weeks long and making sure the people running the programme are properly trained.
“We hope that these practical recommendations will help people make life-long lifestyle changes so they lose weight and most importantly help prevent those pounds from coming back,” she said.
Although it has been suggested that people should aim to lose 3% of their body weight, NICE said the programmes should, however, explain that the more weight lost, the greater the health benefits particularly if someone loses more than 5% of their body weight and maintains this for life.
Professor Mike Kelly, director of the Centre for Public Health at NICE, added: “Lifestyle programmes are one part of the solution. An environment that makes it easier for people to be active and eat well is also crucial, as are services for people with other issues that affect their health and wellbeing.
“The guidance isn't about quick fixes. There is no ‘magic bullet'. It is about ensuring effective services are there to support people in the long term.”
NICE has a suite of guidance available on obesity including advice on working in local communities, lifestyle weight management services for overweight and obese children and young people, and preventing cardiovascular disease.
Commenting on the new NICE guidance, Royal College of Physicians (RCP) president Sir Richard Thompson said: “Approximately 25% of the UK population is obese and the majority of Britain is expected to be obese by 2050. The NHS plays a key role in reducing obesity and we welcome this new guidance from NICE.
“The RCP has found that currently the provision of obesity services is extremely patchy with few joined up services. Patients currently have difficulty in accessing the multi-disciplinary support required to treat the complex and multiple conditions caused by obesity.
“NICE’s new guidance will help encourage greater coordination of services and provide the support that medical professionals need to deliver high quality prevention and obesity management services.”
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