The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (‘NICE’) and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care (NCC–PC) are developing guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment, treatment and weight management of overweight and obesity in adults and children.

The guidance is intended to provide recommendations on the clinical management of overweight and obesity in the NHS. It will also provide guidance on primary prevention approaches aimed at supporting adults and children to maintain a healthy weight. The latter will include advice as to what can be done in schools, in the workplace and in the wider community.

The final Scope for the guideline (which sets out precisely what the guideline will and will not cover) has been published on the Institute’s website:

Final scope - Obesity

The first draft of the guideline is expected to be available for comment in March 2006, with publication of final guidance expected in February 2007.

NICE will not be making any of its draft recommendations public until March 2006 however local commissioners currently planning obesity strategies may find the following existing pieces of work helpful -  

Health Development Agency evidence briefing on “ The management of overweight and obesity (2003)

NICE technology appraisal guidance on the use of surgery for morbid obesity (2002)

NICE technology appraisal guidance on the use of sibutramine for the treatment of obesity (2001)

NICE technology appraisal guidance on the use of orlistat for the treatment of obesity (2001)

In addition, the Department of Health are expected to issue a Care Pathway on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity in December 2005. NICE has had the opportunity of commenting on this Pathway.