PCN Weight Management Service Overview and Outcomes
Emily Freeth – Trainee First Contact Dietitian
Wolverhampton North Network PCN, Primary Care Dietitians
Overview
I worked together with the health and wellbeing team to create weekly sessions a that would provide a place for people to come and have support with their weight loss. The withdrawal of tier 2 services in Wolverhampton for this financial year contributed to this growing demand. Both myself and the Health and Wellbeing Coaches were receiving high numbers of weight management referrals; patients wanted practical support with their weight loss journey.
The setup of the programme included the purchase of electronic column scales (weighing up to 300kg); these were selected to provide a place of inclusion and access for all patients. We secured a suitable room within one of the GP surgeries and planned the outline of the programme.
Topics include: BMI, Eatwell plate, Portion size, Understanding Food labels, Energy intake, Protein, Sleep and diet, SMART goals, Emotional eating, Exercise, Medication and weight, Body Composition, Snacks, Eating out, Ultra-processed foods, Mediterranean diet and DASH diet, intermittent fasting, sugar, mindful eating and emotional eating.
Each week there were 3 sessions at different times (lasting 45 minutes each); 10am, 11am, 5pm. We have found over the course of the year the attendance each week has grown and grown, with most weeks numbers hitting on average 60-65. In Just over 1 year of running the program there has been over 1000kg weight loss which has been the target before Christmas 2024. Going forward, due to growing numbers we are creating a 12 week program instead of ongoing sessions with a more streamline, structure.
Outcomes
From October 2023:
- Amount of people in total referred to WMP: 652
- Number of people who have attended: 277
- Amount of people who have attended at least 10 times: 10
- Amount of people who have lost 5% + weight loss: 34
- Number of people now at a healthy BMI: 5
- Total weight loss in year 1: >1000kg