Weight management: referral to weight management programmes for obesity

  • NICE indicator
  • IND220
  • Published:
  • Last updated:
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Indicator

The percentage of patients with a BMI of 27.5 kg/m2 or more (or 30 kg/m2 or more if ethnicity is recorded as White) in the preceding 12 months who have been offered referral to a weight management programme within 90 days of the BMI being recorded.

Indicator type

General practice indicator suitable for use in the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

This document does not represent formal NICE guidance. For a full list of NICE indicators, see our menu of indicators.

To find out how to use indicators and how we develop them, see our NICE indicator process guide.

Rationale

This indicator aims to increase the proportion of patients offered referral to digital and non-digital weight management programmes by general practice when they have been identified as obese based on their BMI measurement. Some population groups, such as people from BAME backgrounds, have higher risks for certain conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, at lower BMIs.

Source guidance

Weight management: lifestyle services for overweight or obese adults. NICE guideline PH53 (2014), recommendations 6 and 7

Obesity: identification, assessment and management. NICE guideline CG189 (2022), recommendations 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.8, 1.2.9, 1.2.14, 1.3.1, 1.3.4, 1.3.6 and 1.4.4

Specification

Numerator: The number of patients in the denominator whose notes record an offer of referral to a weight management programme within 90 days of their BMI being recorded.

Denominator: The number of patients with a BMI recording of 27.5 kg/m2 or more (or 30 kg/m2 or more if ethnicity is recorded as White) in the preceding 12 months.

Calculation: Numerator divided by the denominator, multiplied by 100.

Inclusions: Patients offered referral or referred to weight management services.

Exclusions:

  • Patients aged under 18 years.

  • Patients with a previous referral to a weight management programme in the 24 months preceding the end of the reporting period.

  • Patients currently attending weight management services.

Minimum population: The indicator would be appropriate to assess performance at individual general practice level.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-5937-2