At Saltash Health Centre, we recognise that overweight and obesity are complex health conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises obesity as a chronic disease, and there is rarely a single cause. Instead, it results from a complex interaction of many factors, both biological and environmental.
These factors can include genetics inherited from your family; neurobiology, such as the complex signalling pathways and feedback systems between your brain and gut; eating behaviours; environmental influences; social circumstances; and mental health. Weight is therefore influenced by far more than simply the balance between calories consumed and calories expended.
We understand that managing weight can be challenging, and that it is not always straightforward. Our aim is to support you with a compassionate, evidence-based approach that recognises the many factors that can affect your weight management journey.
Exercise
“Couch to 5k” is an NHS initiative which has proven very successful on a national scale, and you can find the detail on how to engage with it by following this link Couch to 5k
There is a 12 week programme for weight management which is delivered in local leisure centres which you can be referred for. Healthwise – Better Leisure Centres
Mental Health
Mental health can impact weight management particularly poor sleep and stress. Help is available through Talking Therapies
Diet
In respect of diet, check the ingredients on food products and avoid anything containing items you wouldn’t normally use in your own cooking. These foods are typically highly processed, meaning your body expends little energy digesting them. As a result, calories can enter the bloodstream too quickly for the body to manage effectively, increasing the likelihood that excess energy will be stored as fat.
A diabetic diet can be a useful starting point for more information Diabetes Healthy Diet
You may benefit from referring yourself to Healthy Cornwall
Medication
Orlistat
Orlistat is a medication which stops the body absorbing fat which, if consumed, results in diarrhoea. Please let the practice know if you’d like to try it.
Referral for weight loss medications
We can provide onward NHS referral (to Oviva) for consideration of weight loss medications like Wegovy (semaglutide) for patients with high BMI or weight-related comorbidities who have not achieved weight loss through community services over a 2-year period. This NHS offer has strict eligibility criteria (listed below). If you feel you meet these criteria and medications are something you would like to consider, please contact us.
Eligibility criteria for medication:
- The patient has a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2* OR
- The patient has a BMI of at least 40 kg/m2* and has engaged with community weight services over a 2-year period but has failed to achieve or maintain weight loss goals OR
- The patient has a BMI of at least 35 kg/m2* and has at least 4 out 5 of the following weight related co-morbidities and has engaged with community weight services over a 2-year period but has failed to achieve or maintain weight loss goals
Complete list of co-morbidities – please indicate relevant below:
- Established cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Non- alcohol steatohepatitis (NASH)
*There is a tolerance unit of BMI 2.5 on each element of the criteria above in relation to at-risk groups that have higher obesity prevalence rates particularly those with black African or Caribbean and South Asian origin.
NHS Bariatric Surgery
If you would prefer to consider NHS bariatric surgery for weight loss, eligibility criteria must be met. This surgery and follow up is undertaken at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro.
Eligibility criteria for surgery:
- The patient has a BMI of 50kgs/m2 or more, surgery should be considered as a first line treatment intervention OR
- The patient has a BMI of 40kgs/m2 or more, or a BMI of 35-40kgs/m2 plus other obesity-related complications that could be improved with weight loss.
- AND The patient agrees to the necessary long-term follow up after surgery (for example, lifelong annual reviews).
Example comorbidities:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypercholesterolaemia on treatment
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with or without steatohepatitis
- Hypertension (including idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
- Osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints
(Consider referral for people of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African–Caribbean background using a lower BMI threshold (reduced by 2.5 kg/m2), to account for the fact that these groups are prone to central adiposity and their cardiometabolic risk occurs at lower BMI.)
You can calculate your BMI on the NHS website BMI Calculator
Please consider your options and contact the practice online if you’d like help with any of the offers.