Weight Management Services

Healthwatch Wakefield decided to look at weight management services after talking to Public Health who said that people didn't seem to be accessing community based programmes.  They wanted to explore what the barriers were to people accessing these programmes.  They carried out a survey and interviews.  They spoke to 76 people.

People said that they seek support services for weight management not only for weight loss but also for health, energy, mood, and habit improvements. People said that services focused on health and wellbeing were more likely to engage, they also felt that they would be more likely to stick to new habits even after they met their target weight.

People recognised that managing food intake is key to controlling weight, but they found it restrictive and negative. When the focus is only on food, it misses the opportunity to also increase physical activity, which was more effective and led to lasting changes. Support framed positively, focusing on building new habits rather than just stopping old ones, was also better received and sustained.

Participants felt alone in managing their weight, making it harder to change habits and build new relationships with food. A social aspect was key to effective services, with programmes like Slimming World and exercise activities where people could connect with others facing similar challenges being particularly popular.

People said they felt that addressing their weight would require too much time, focus, and energy, and they were also concerned about the cost of making changes. It’s important that support services emphasise that weight management doesn’t have to be a big, time consuming task.

Many participants had never considered discussing their weight with healthcare professionals, and when they did, the clinician often didn’t bring it up unless it was directly related to another health issue. There was also confusion about what support was available and who could access it, with some being turned away after referrals. People are more likely to seek help if they understand the process and what to expect, so unclear information can delay help seeking.

Some people were unsure about what they should be doing and valued having a trusted person to guide them. For those with additional health issues they may also be unsure about what is safe for them to do. Many people also turned to social media and video sites for health and weight content, presenting an opportunity to explore new ways to present and develop local services.

Many people highlighted what made them disengage. Several talked about needing a sense of enjoyment. Others talked about needing services to be dynamic. Some cited the need for positive challenge, to feel like they are making progress, for example by having achievements and ways to mark success.

Several of the most highly rated support offers made use of these aspects. For example, coordinated events outside and Slimming World sessions which were holding to account and praising progress were key to driving initial and follow up attendances.

Culture also plays a key role. When people feel supported and encouraged by the group, they are more likely to keep attending. However, a negative focus can lead to disengagement. Services should emphasise celebrating positive changes in weight, as people prefer praise over criticism.