Abstracts / Posters
The efficacy of a national primary care weight management programme
The Counterweight Project Team
Aims: To assess the efficacy of a UK primary care weight management programme.
Methods: 80 primary care practices from 7 areas of the UK were recruited into the Counterweight Programme. Specialist obesity dietitians provided practice training, clinical support & implemented protocols. Patients attended 6 individual appointments (10-20 minutes) or 6 group sessions (1 hour) with a nurse over 3 months, and were then seen quarterly. Data are reported from the first 30 practices.
Results: 682 patients (mean BMI=37.0) were recruited. At baseline 48% had at least one obesity related co-morbidity (15% diabetes, 15% hyperlipidaemia, 32% hypertension, 10% cardiac co-morbidities). Mean weight loss at 3 months (n=316) was 3.3kg (SE=0.19), range 22.0kg (loss) to 6.4kg (gain), while at 6 months (n=199) it was 4.3 kg (SE=0.36), range 20.5kg (loss) to 6.0kg (gain). At 6 months 13% of patients lost >= 10% (n=25) and 43% lost >= 5% (n=85). There was no difference in weight loss by co-morbidity prevalence, gender or age. Higher BMI was associated with greater weight reduction (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Primary care training and implementation of treatment protocols is effective for obesity management. Conclusions: Obesity has a significant impact on prescribing across a range of disease areas.