Found: FDO0001 - Food, Diet and Obesity Institute of Economic Affairs Written Evidence

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Found: FDO0004 - Food, Diet and Obesity Veg Power Written Evidence

Found: FDO0003 - Food, Diet and Obesity Porter Nutrition Written Evidence

Found: FDO0006 - Food, Diet and Obesity The Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Association Written Evidence

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Found: We know that if someone is living with obesity they may well also suffer from cardiovascular disease

Found: However, there are real negative trends that we need to be concerned about, such as rising obesity,

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Tier 2 weight management services are sufficiently (a) resourced and (b) integrated with (i) primary care networks, (ii) community health hubs and (iii) other relevant providers to offer comprehensive support for people living with obesity.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service and local government provide a range of free tier two weight management services (WMS), to help eligible people living with obesity to lose weight. These are multi-component programmes, including dietary approaches and physical activity, with behaviour change support. The length of support can vary, but guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence suggests these should last at least three months.

The NHS offers the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, which is a tier two service aimed at adults living with obesity, who also have type 2 diabetes or hypertension, or both, as well as NHS staff living with obesity. The 12-week programme is directly commissioned and managed by NHS England nationally, and is available via direct referral from any general practice or Community Pharmacy

Local authorities are able to spend funding from the Public Health Grant on weight management services in line with local population need. They may be delivered as a standalone service or as part of an integrated service, for example with smoking cessation support. Where local authorities commission these services, they are responsible for determining the required resourcing and interaction with other services, along with weight management service providers

Local authorities are part of integrated care systems (ICSs), which are partnerships of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of people who live and work in their area. ICS membership also includes the NHS, social care providers, charities, and other organisations. Being a member of the ICS will help local authorities to work more closely with partner organisations and offer integrated support for people living with obesity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate oversight of how primary care settings deliver equitable access to weight management services in line with NICE Guidance.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local authorities and the National Health Service provide a range of Weight Management Services (WMS) to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. Generally, WMS delivered in the community are behavioural services provided by local authorities or the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, rather than in primary care.

Local commissioners and WMS providers are expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences, and values of their patients or service users. The NICE’s guidelines provide recommendations on best practice in terms of both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions and services. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, although health and care commissioners are expected to take them fully into account.

Although primary care services are not a main provider of WMS, general practice (GP) is an important source of referrals to WMS. The Department funds the GP Weight Management Enhanced Service, which incentivises GPs to develop and implement a proactive approach to identifying and engaging with patients living with obesity, including the referral to WMS where appropriate. The service delivery specification for this enhanced service includes minimum standards such as undertaking training to have sensitive conversations about weight, and the review and restoration of the practice obesity register.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to weight management services in areas of socioeconomic deprivation.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local authorities and the National Health Service provide weight management services to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. These range from behavioural weight management programmes to specialist services for those living with obesity and associated co-morbidities.

Local authorities are able to spend funding from the Public Health Grant on behavioural weight management services in line with local population need, including in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning NHS specialist weight management services in line with local population need, as well as determining the criteria for access to these services in line with relevant guidance.

NHS England commissions the Digital Weight Management Programme nationally for people living with obesity and an existing comorbidity of either diabetes, or hypertension, or both. The 12-week programme is available via direct referral from any general practice or Community Pharmacy.

The programme provides three levels of intervention at varying intensities, and patients less likely to complete a behavioural programme of this nature, for instance those of a younger age, from ethnic minority backgrounds, from a more deprived area, or who are male, are offered a higher level of intervention and support to retain their engagement on the programme. Approximately 50% of total referrals are from the two most deprived socioeconomic quintiles.

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Found: of the barbecue area in Burgess Park did not directly align with their policy priority of reducing obesity

Found: the third sector and the NHS to tackle healthcare challenges such as dementia, cancer, mental health, obesity

Found: the third sector and the NHS to tackle healthcare challenges such as dementia, cancer, mental health, obesity

Found: With levels of over -weight and obesity in Scotland at 67% already and childhood obesity increasing

Found: Non -MSP Group Members Amanda Amos, University of Edin burgh David Blane, University of Glasgow, Obesity