Weight Management Slimming Program - UK
Weight Management Study Background
The prevention and management of overweight/obesity are fundamental to
a number of national service frameworks. A strategic document, Tackling
Obesity in Southern Derbyshire, (Avery 2000), was produced which proposed
one opportunity for weight management as partnership working with a commercial
slimming organisation. A feasibility study was set up to establish how
to best manage such a partnership.
Weight Management Study Aim
The aims were to see if people referred from primary care attended and
maintained attendance at a commercial slimming club, identify factors
associated with successful participation and gather baseline data to help
plan future intervention studies comparing referral with other interventions.
Weight Management Subjects
Two inner city practices recruited 107 patients (BMI>30kg/m2, aged
18-70years), between September 2001 and February 2002. Ethical approval
was obtained. Patients were given vouchers covering free membership and
12 weeks attendance at a local Slimming World class of their choice. It
was imperative that people attending through 'slimming on referral' would
not be made to feel different in any way. Patients were encouraged to
stay in the program after 3 months but they then became responsible for
their own weekly fees. Patients were reviewed by the primary care team
at 3 and 6 months. The average age of the participants was 49.5yrs, 88
percent were female and 11 percent of the study population were known
to have diabetes. The average BMI was 36kg/m2 (range 30-47), with 50 percent
having a BMI above 35.
Weight Management Study Method
A series of questionnaires were designed to evaluate the study, besides
weight change being used as outcome. The questionnaires collected socio-economic
data as well as information relating to general health, lifestyle, motivation
to lose weight and experience of the club. There was also interest in
possible barriers to continue going to the group, both within the 3 month
free period and subsequent 3 months. Following recruitment 91 (85 percent)
participants enrolled with a Slimming World class. Of these, 68 percent
of the enrolled population, (n=62),completed the 3month free attendance
at the class of their choice. 76 percent of participants who completed
indicated that they intended to carry on attending the class, but paying
normal class fees.
Weight Management Study Results
Participants weights were recorded at the 3month follow-up practice visit
and their weekly weight change recorded at their Slimming World class.
From these records the mean weight loss of those completing the free attendance
was 11.9lb. 34 people completed 6 months with a mean weight loss of 24.3lb.
Weight Management Conclusion
The qualitative data supports the partnership between the health sector
and a commercial slimming organisation: 'had I not had the push from the
surgery I would not have gone despite being overweight', 'I was helped
at a time when I had a low self-esteem and financial problems'.
There is a need to be innovative in the
management of obesity, with dietitians and nursing staff increasingly
in short supply. Furthermore anti-obesity medication is placing a burden
on the prescribing budget of most PCTs. The commercial sector has an already
established infrastructure and product that is well taken up. Collaboration
has the potential to benefit both the public and private sector in an
approach that could both be highly cost effective and sustainable.
Source: Avery, A. Tackling Obesity in Southern
Derbyshire: A Framework for Action (2000). The study was joint funded
by Southern Derbyshire Health Authority and Slimming World.
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