Referral Criteria
Counterweight is recommended for an adult population:
- 18 to 75 years old
- BMI≥ 30 kg/m2 or BMI ≥28 kg/m2 with comorbidity
- Assessed as at the right stage of behaviour change to be receptive to the programme
Counterweight is a structured process based on screening, treatment and monitoring pathways developed during the 5 year research project. Lifestyle interventions are the core treatment of the Counterweight programme.
Suitable patients are recommended to attend 9 appointments in the first year. The appointments comprise 6 intensive education sessions over the first 3 months during which they work with the practitioner to explore variety of topics which are supported with booklets developed for the programme including a choice of weight loss plans. Appointments last between 10-30 minutes. After the initial education sessions patients are invited to quarterly review sessions for the following 9 months and annual review thereafter.