Pharmacy needs to have a role in tackling obesity
Tackling obesity should be one of the roles for community pharmacy that is enabled by the new contract for England and Wales, the All-Party Pharmacy Group says.
In a report to ministers, the APPG recommends that the new contract should
set out a defined public health role for pharmacists. In relation to
weight management and obesity, it says that a national service standard
should be drawn up, which can be adopted and adapted according to local
needs.
In addition, it recommends that pharmacies will need to have access to
electronic patient records and financial support for installing counselling
areas so that services can be provided to appropriate standards.
In drawing up its report, the APPG spoke to Roger King, secretary to
Dorset Local Pharmaceutical Committee. Mr King has been involved in a
coronary heart disease screening programme that involves collecting information
on weight, diet and exercise. Mr King told the group that results from
the programme show a direct correlation between increased weight and
higher risk of CHD.
Mr King said that he had tried to put over the message that “we
can do it in community pharmacy — given the right resources”.
He said that demonstrating to patients, using a computer program, how
reducing their weight also reduced CHD risk was helpful. “Many
people know that they are overweight but don’t know what to do
about it.” Mr King said that only basic equipment and a private
counselling area was needed for risk assessment. Measuring blood lipid
profiles could be added to the service.
The APPG also heard from other pharmacists about specific weight management
services. The use of patient group directions for anti-obesity therapies
would be a helpful step, it was suggested.
The group has asked for its report to be considered as part of the consultation
on a public health White Paper, announced by Health Secretary John Reid
last week (PJ, 7 February, p146).
More obesity A quarter of men and one-fifth of women who took part
in the 2001 national diet and nutrition survey were obese, according
to the Food Standards Agency. This had risen from 8 per cent and
12 per cent, respectively, in 1987. In addition, 41 per cent of men
and 33 per cent of women were overweight, according to the 2001 survey
which recorded eating patterns and levels of activity.
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