DoH broadens obesity support
Weight loss: DoH guidance outlines how to broach the subject with
patients |
Over two million more men and more than one million additional women
in England will be obese in 2010 than in 2003, according to Government
estimates. The Department of Health is taking advantage of a new report “Forecasting
obesity to 2010” (PDF 370K) to promote its obesity support package
which includes information for obese people and management plans for
health
professionals.
The forecasts are based on the assumption that trends apparent between
1993 and 2003 will continue to 2010. The report goes on to say that nearly
800,000 boys and over 900,000 girls are expected to be obese by the end
of the decade.
The DoH’s resources include
step-by-step obesity-management algorithms for both adults and children,
aimed at health professionals within the
primary care sector. There is also guidance to help health professionals
to broach the issue of weight loss with patients.
Dewi Cook, a pharmacist formerly involved in a pharmacy weight reduction
support clinic in Wales, told The Journal that community pharmacists
can become involved with weight reduction services and education. “Obesity
is such a widespread problem, with extreme consequences in the long term
for the NHS,” he said. “Patients sometimes feel it would
be a burden on their GP if they went to them, but pharmacies are the
ideal location to provide lifestyle information, with longer opening
hours and approachable staff.”
Mr Cook went on to say that some primary care trusts offer detailed obesity
programmes as an enhanced service under the community pharmacy contract. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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