Eli Lilly and Company and Slimming World provided sponsorship funding to support the creation of the ICS Weight Management Services Hub and have had no input into the organisation or content of this website.
Reports
Evaluation of a Community Weight Management Programme for Over 27,000 Adults: 24-Month Outcomes
People living with obesity face a future of living with long-term ill health given the strong association between obesity and most of the well-known non-communicable diseases. More severe obesity is associated with a greater level of health risk. Thus obesity, given the prevalence, poses a significant burden on health care resources and impacts the quality of care that current national health care systems can provide. Long-term support is required that is scalable and easily accessible by people from different backgrounds and with different levels of obesity to enable them to better manage their weight long-term. Despite the individual and societal costs associated with obesity, limited long-term support is available through the NHS. The management of obesity needs behavioural solutions that are accessible to people within the community which can accommodate people’s daily routines.
Randomised Trial of Obesity Screening and Brief Intervention in Primary Care
Obesity is a common cause of non-communicable disease. Guidelines recommend that physicians screen and offer brief advice to motivate weight loss through referral to behavioural weight loss programmes. However, physicians rarely intervene and no trials have been done on the subject. We did this trial to establish whether physician brief intervention is acceptable and effective for reducing bodyweight in patients with obesity.
Nourishing Britain: A Political Manual for Improving the Nation’s Health
We have both spent our respective careers trying to improve the UK’s food system, often working closely with politicians from each of the major parties. It has at times been exasperating, watching one government after another struggle to grasp this agenda fast enough, often leaving office just as their confidence and clarity peaks. On the other hand, a campaigner’s job is in many ways much easier than a politician’s. We only have to be experts in our field, whereas they are expected to know and solve everything, all at once, while under continuous political and media fire. We decided to interview the key political figures of the past three decades about why the politics of food are so fraught. We wanted to understand the messy, behind the-scenes compromises, the logistical frustrations and psychological and cultural barriers that get in the way of improving the food system.
Living with Obesity: Men's Experiences of Weight Loss and Regain, and Their Policy and Service Implications
The study explores men’s experiences of living with obesity in both an everyday sense, where they are exposed to the symbolic persecution of being labelled a failed citizen, and their perspectives and stories of engaging with and resisting weight management practices. These experiences shape men’s identities, self-esteem, and social interactions, often influencing their willingness to seek support. Furthermore, the study underscores the complex interplay between personal agency and societal pressures, highlighting how cultural norms and stigmatisation can both hinder and motivate engagement with weight management strategies.
Childhood Obesity in Nottingham: Trends, Challenges, and Urgent Action
Childhood obesity is a growing public health crisis in Nottingham, with 42.5% of Year 6 children living with overweight or obesity—far exceeding the national average. To combat this, Thriving Nottingham has launched innovative weight management interventions, including the Gloji Energy and Gloji Teens programs, a school-based curriculum, and community-led initiatives. These programs focus on holistic, family-centered approaches, leveraging behaviour change models to encourage sustainable healthy habits. Early results are promising, with participating families reporting improved lifestyle choices and increased engagement in physical activity. By tackling obesity from multiple angles—family support, teen engagement, and early education—Nottingham is taking meaningful steps toward a healthier future for its children.
Additional Reports