Improving how weight loss advice is given by GPs

Improving delivery of brief opportunistic advice for weight loss in primary care 

Around one in four adults in the UK is obese, and the levels are rising. Obesity increases the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases, and costs the NHS around £4.2 billion a year. GPs are in a good position to guide patients to take action, but they rarely give advice because they don’t feel they know how to talk about weight. Surveys show that the way doctors talk about weight is important in motivating people. However, we don't currently know which ways are most helpful. In this project, researchers will analyse doctor-patient conversations in 200 recorded consultations where advice to lose weight was offered. They will then see how patients felt afterwards, and what they did about their weight in the following months. This research will identify the most effective approach, words, phrases and tone that GPs could use to motivate people to lose weight. This will inform a new training package, which will be tested by GPs. Eventually, the new training tools could give many more GPs the confidence and skills to support obese patients to reach a healthy weight.