NEWS: NHS digital programme: Helping patients shed pounds

 

As reported by NHS England, new research reveals significant weight loss among participants of the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, indicating the effectiveness of online support in promoting healthier lifestyles

A new peer reviewed paper, published in The Obesity Journal, shows that 63,937 people were referred to the scheme in its first year with 50% taking up the offer and enrolling onto the service.

A total of 14,268 of those then went on to complete the programme (April 2021 to March 2022), with people who completed it losing an impressive 3.9kg or 8.59lbs over 12 weeks.

The 12-week online plan offers diet and physical activity advice, as well as guidance and support to help achieve a healthy lifestyle with boosted participation thanks to easy access on an app or online.

Of the 31,718 people who started the initiative, including those who did not complete, the average weight loss was still 2.2kg or 4.85lbs.

More than a third of the referrals were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds with the data clearly showing it is helping those from deprived backgrounds, as well as those affected by health inequalities and at a higher risk of adverse outcomes associated with obesity.

Of the total referrals (63,937), 57% of were women with an average age of 57 years. Over three quarters (77%) of those referred were aged 40 to 69.

People are eligible for referral on to the 12-week programme if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more – lowered to 27.5 for people from Black, Asian and minority ethnicities – and are diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or both.

Eligible people are triaged into 3 intervention levels, with more intensive support targeted at people with higher levels of risk – level 1 provides self-guided digital content and optional participation in group support sessions; the next level offers an additional 50 minutes of 1:1 coaching; and level 3 increases this to 100 mins of 1:1 personal coaching.

The paper found that incorporating digital delivery weight management services could increase reach and enhance overall effectiveness. As of March 2024, over 358,000 referrals had been made to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme.

The programme is part of a raft of NHS measures which aim to support people to prevent or reduce incidence of type 2 diabetes and obesity – from the world leading type 2 diabetes prevention programme to the soups and shakes diets, which aim to put type 2 diabetes in remission in people who are newly diagnosed.

NHS National Clinical Director for Diabetes and Obesity, Dr Clare Hambling said: “These results are extremely encouraging and show that by combining the effectiveness of existing weight management services with an easy to access service available on your phone or computer, more people can be supported to improve their health.

“While this study looked at the initial 64,000 patients referred in the programme’s first year, we have now seen more than 358,000 referrals by GPs and it’s very encouraging to see so many people benefit from the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme”.