Quality standard

Quality statement 8: Preventing weight regain

Quality statement 8: Preventing weight regain

Quality statement

Adults about to complete a lifestyle weight management programme agree a plan to prevent weight regain.

Rationale

It is important to ensure that adults who are about to complete a lifestyle weight management programme have a plan to help them maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain. This will enable them to self‑manage their weight and make it less likely that they will need further lifestyle weight management interventions in the future.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Structure

Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that adults about to complete a lifestyle weight management programme agree a plan to prevent weight regain.

Data source: Local data collection.

Process

Proportion of adults completing a lifestyle weight management programme who agree a plan to prevent weight regain.

Numerator – the number in the denominator who agree a plan to prevent weight regain.

Denominator – the number of adults about to complete a lifestyle weight management programme.

Data source: Local data collection.

Outcome

a) Obesity prevalence.

Data source: Local data collection.

b) Prevalence of obesity‑related comorbidities.

Data source: Local data collection.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (providers of lifestyle weight management programmes) ensure that adults about to complete a lifestyle weight management programme agree a plan to prevent weight regain.

Healthcare professionals (such as GPs, dietitians and practice nurses)ensure that they make referrals to and promote lifestyle weight management programmes that include agreeing a plan to prevent weight regain on completion.

Commissioners ensure that a plan to prevent weight regain is agreed with adults who are about to complete a lifestyle weight management programme. This could be provided by the lifestyle weight management programme provider or commissioned separately.

Adults who are about to finish a lifestyle weight management programme agree a planto help them avoid putting weight back on.

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Lifestyle weight management programmes

Lifestyle weight management programmes for overweight or obese adults are multicomponent programmes that aim to reduce a person's energy intake and help them to be more physically active by changing their behaviour and working towards achievable goals. They should last for at least 3 months, with sessions that are offered at least weekly or fortnightly and include a 'weigh‑in' at each session. They may include weight management programmes, courses or clubs that:

  • accept adults through self‑referral or referral from a health or social care practitioner

  • are provided by the public, private or voluntary sector

  • are based in the community, workplaces, primary care or online.

Although local definitions vary, these are usually called tier 2 services and form part of a comprehensive approach to preventing and treating obesity. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on weight management: lifestyle services for overweight or obese adults, recommendation 9, glossary and expert opinion]

Plan to prevent weight regain

A plan to prevent weight regain should:

  • encourage independence and self‑management (including self‑monitoring)

  • identify a suitable weight target that is sustainable in the long term

  • identify sources of ongoing support once the programme has ended, such as online resources, support groups, other local services or activities, and family and friends

  • include goals to maintain new dietary habits and increased physical activity levels and strategies to overcome any difficulties encountered

  • identify dietary habits that will support weight maintenance and are sustainable in the long term

  • promote ways of being more physically active and less sedentary which are sustainable in the long term.

[Adapted from NICE's guideline on weight management: lifestyle services for overweight or obese adults, recommendations 9 and 10]

Equality and diversity considerations

Providers of lifestyle weight management programmes should take into account the cultural and communication needs of people who are completing a lifestyle weight management programme when agreeing a plan to prevent weight regain.

Providers of lifestyle weight management programmes should have an inclusive approach that encourages people from all backgrounds to agree a plan to prevent weight regain. This includes using a respectful and non‑judgemental approach. Particular attention should be given to engaging people with learning difficulties or mental health issues and those from lower socioeconomic groups.

Providers of lifestyle weight management programmes should be able to meet the specific needs of women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are trying to lose weight after pregnancy when developing a plan to prevent weight regain.