A Service Evaluation of a Specialist Multi‐Disciplinary Weight Management Service Based in Primary Care Including Long‐Term Follow‐Up Data

ABSTRACT

This service evaluation of a primary care‐based specialist weight management service reports data from 1094 patients over 5 years (2014–2019), including weight data at 1‐year post‐discharge. The results show clinically and statistically significant improvements in weight, diet, physical activity, quality of life, blood pressure and blood glucose control (in people living with type 2 diabetes). Change in weight was statistically significant for all timepoints in all subgroups. At 1‐year completers ( n  = 560) had lost a mean of 8.3 kg (SD 0.3) and 133 patients (23.8%) had lost ≥ 10% of their starting weight. Using baseline observation carried forward analysis on the whole cohort ( n  = 1094) the mean weight loss at the end of the 1‐year programme was 4.5 kg (SD 0.2) and 144 (13.2%) had lost ≥ 10% of their starting weight. A year after discharge completers demonstrated a mean weight loss of 8.3% (SD 10.3 n  = 303) and 35.6% ( n  = 108) of completers had maintained ≥ 10% change in body weight. Analysis showed a mean weight loss of 2.5% (SD 6.8 n  = 1094) in the whole cohort using baseline observation carried forward, demonstrating maintenance of weight loss and suggesting that specialist weight management services in primary care may be effective in the longer‐term.