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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Weight loss: NHS backs 'lose a little, keep it off' plans | Weight loss: NHS backs 'lose a little, keep it off' plans |
| (17 days later) | |
| New weight loss guidelines for the NHS in England will advise people to "lose a little and keep it off" for life. | New weight loss guidelines for the NHS in England will advise people to "lose a little and keep it off" for life. |
| The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) wants overweight people sent to slimming classes with the aim of a 3% weight loss. | The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) wants overweight people sent to slimming classes with the aim of a 3% weight loss. |
| NICE said even such a small loss - probably of just a few pounds - would cut blood pressure and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes and some cancers. | NICE said even such a small loss - probably of just a few pounds - would cut blood pressure and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes and some cancers. |
| Two in three adults in England are overweight - with a BMI higher than 25. | Two in three adults in England are overweight - with a BMI higher than 25. |
| Someone weighing 15st 10lb would need to lose just over six pounds to cut their weight by 3%. | Someone weighing 15st 10lb would need to lose just over six pounds to cut their weight by 3%. |
| If they were 5ft 7in, their BMI would drop from 35 to 33. Anyone with a BMI of more than 30 is classed as obese. | If they were 5ft 7in, their BMI would drop from 35 to 33. Anyone with a BMI of more than 30 is classed as obese. |
| 'Difficult' | 'Difficult' |
| Prof Mike Kelly, the director of the centre for public health at NICE, said the guidelines were about lifelong change rather than yo-yo dieting, when the weight is piled back on after initial success. | Prof Mike Kelly, the director of the centre for public health at NICE, said the guidelines were about lifelong change rather than yo-yo dieting, when the weight is piled back on after initial success. |
| He said that required achievable goals: "We would like to offer an instant solution and a quick win, a much greater ambition if you like, but realistically it's important to bear in mind this is difficult. | He said that required achievable goals: "We would like to offer an instant solution and a quick win, a much greater ambition if you like, but realistically it's important to bear in mind this is difficult. |
| "It is not just a question of 'for goodness' sake pull yourself together and lose a stone' - it doesn't work like that. | "It is not just a question of 'for goodness' sake pull yourself together and lose a stone' - it doesn't work like that. |
| "People find it difficult to do - it's not something you can just wake up one morning and decide I'm going to lose 10 pounds, it takes resolve, it takes encouragement." | "People find it difficult to do - it's not something you can just wake up one morning and decide I'm going to lose 10 pounds, it takes resolve, it takes encouragement." |
| Obesity statistics | Obesity statistics |
| Source: National Institute of Health and Care Excellence | Source: National Institute of Health and Care Excellence |
| BBC News: Where are you on the global fat scale? | BBC News: Where are you on the global fat scale? |
| Gill Fine, a public health nutritionist who led the team devising the guidelines, said a sustained 3% drop in weight would alter the trajectory of ever-expanding waistlines. | Gill Fine, a public health nutritionist who led the team devising the guidelines, said a sustained 3% drop in weight would alter the trajectory of ever-expanding waistlines. |
| She commented: "If people think they've got to lose over a stone, they don't lose a stone and they get disheartened and they go back up - that isn't going to help them. | She commented: "If people think they've got to lose over a stone, they don't lose a stone and they get disheartened and they go back up - that isn't going to help them. |
| "But if they can just lose a little bit, keep that weight off then that is going to give them a health benefit." | "But if they can just lose a little bit, keep that weight off then that is going to give them a health benefit." |
| The guidance for the NHS in England said weight-management programmes should: | The guidance for the NHS in England said weight-management programmes should: |
| This would include some established NHS programmes as well as private businesses including Rosemary Conley, Slimming World and Weight Watchers. | This would include some established NHS programmes as well as private businesses including Rosemary Conley, Slimming World and Weight Watchers. |
| Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, told the BBC the guidelines did not go far enough and looked like a "brave attempt to close the stable door whilst the horse is still bolting". | Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, told the BBC the guidelines did not go far enough and looked like a "brave attempt to close the stable door whilst the horse is still bolting". |
| He commented: "A 3% reduction may well have some health benefit - every little helps - but if the patient is obese at the beginning of the course he or she will probably still be obese by its end. | He commented: "A 3% reduction may well have some health benefit - every little helps - but if the patient is obese at the beginning of the course he or she will probably still be obese by its end. |
| "At least a 5% weight loss, and preferably one of 10%, have been weight reduction targets in past years and they still should be today. | "At least a 5% weight loss, and preferably one of 10%, have been weight reduction targets in past years and they still should be today. |
| "NICE should be going for the clinical excellence that it's proud of and not the compromise it has suggested." | "NICE should be going for the clinical excellence that it's proud of and not the compromise it has suggested." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By James Gallagher, BBC health and science reporter | By James Gallagher, BBC health and science reporter |
| If you are looking for a solution to the obesity epidemic, this is not it. At least not on its own. | If you are looking for a solution to the obesity epidemic, this is not it. At least not on its own. |
| Obesity is an area of public health where there are no quick fixes. | Obesity is an area of public health where there are no quick fixes. |
| During interviews, Prof Mike Kelly from NICE made repeated comparisons with smoking. | During interviews, Prof Mike Kelly from NICE made repeated comparisons with smoking. |
| Weight-loss programmes are akin to smoking-cessation services, but they don't stop people smoking or getting fat in the first place. | Weight-loss programmes are akin to smoking-cessation services, but they don't stop people smoking or getting fat in the first place. |
| Prof Kelly said there was a need to "get a grip on the obesogenic environment". | Prof Kelly said there was a need to "get a grip on the obesogenic environment". |
| "You can walk down a High Street anywhere in England and you are surrounded by cheap, energy- dense calories and that is obviously part of the problem." | "You can walk down a High Street anywhere in England and you are surrounded by cheap, energy- dense calories and that is obviously part of the problem." |
| Prof John Ashton, the president of the Faculty of Public Health, said obesity was a major health issue. | Prof John Ashton, the president of the Faculty of Public Health, said obesity was a major health issue. |
| He added: "These are just the first steps. If tackling obesity were as simple as telling people they should eat less and move more, we would not have a problem now. | He added: "These are just the first steps. If tackling obesity were as simple as telling people they should eat less and move more, we would not have a problem now. |
| "Individuals need to play their part, but this guidance acts as a reminder that we also need bold action now from government to reduce the huge costs of treating obesity. | "Individuals need to play their part, but this guidance acts as a reminder that we also need bold action now from government to reduce the huge costs of treating obesity. |
| "Stronger more effective policy interventions are also needed, which is why we support piloting a sugar duty, to see how successful it will be." | "Stronger more effective policy interventions are also needed, which is why we support piloting a sugar duty, to see how successful it will be." |
| Sir Richard Thompson, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "The majority of Britain is expected to be obese by 2050. | Sir Richard Thompson, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "The majority of Britain is expected to be obese by 2050. |
| "NICE's new guidance will help encourage greater co-ordination of services and provide the support that medical professionals need to deliver high-quality prevention and obesity management services." | "NICE's new guidance will help encourage greater co-ordination of services and provide the support that medical professionals need to deliver high-quality prevention and obesity management services." |