A new quality standard on preventing and tackling obesity in adults focuses on integrated weight management programmes, which could be delivered by physiotherapists.
The guideline provides a framework on preventing avoidable ill health
The CSP has welcomed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline, Obesity in adults: prevention and lifestyle weight management programmes, which was published on 19 January.
The guideline provides a framework to support the delivery of the NHS Five Year Forward View on preventing avoidable ill health.
NICE emphasises the need for coordinated weight management programmes with an integrated and person-centred approach, which it suggests should be delivered by a range of agencies in the community.
Physiotherapists are part of multidisciplinary teams delivering these programmes, said CSP professional adviser Priya Dasoju. ‘Hopefully, it will mean that more weight management programmes will be commissioned,’ she said.
The quality standard also requires all health and care practitioners in contact with overweight and obese adults to ensure they offer information or referrals on local weight management services. It also states that appropriate professionals should ensure that family members and carers help to support initiatives to maintain a healthy weight. Professionals are required to have sufficient training and competencies to deliver these actions.
'Physiotherapy staff not only have the skills to deliver the actions and interventions outlined in the standard but they also have a key role in signposting to local weight management programmes where appropriate,' said Ms Dasoju.
More information on how physiotherapy staff have a role in the prevention and management of obesity can be found in the Physiotherapy Works evidence briefing on obesity: www.csp.org.uk/obesity
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