Award-winning Banff obesity project could show the way

Service hailed as major advance in tackling health problem

By John Thomson

Published:

An award-winning health initiative in the north-east to help people tackle obesity and associated problems could be a model for future development in the field.

A specialist in the condition has hailed a Banff-based obesity management service as a major advance to make people aware of weight problems.

The NHS nurse-led service supports patients in identifying health factors associated with obesity, such as heart disease, and encourages them to care for themselves.

Dr Utkarsh Kulkarni, of NHS Grampian, said: “The growing prevalence of obesity and its legacy of disease demands that healthcare professionals look at the way weight management is handled.

“As a disease and as a social and economic issue, obesity has widespread ramifications for the health service, industry, education and government.”

Dr Kulkarni described the Banff service as a great step forward.

“I hope we can build on the success of this particular clinic,” he said.

The Banff service has won a prestigious award for best practice from the National Obesity Forum.

Banff and Gamrie practice nurse Christine Goldie, who is involved in the project alongside obesity specialist nurse Jenny Brown, from Woolmanhill, Aberdeen, received it this week.

The award included £1,000 and the latest equipment for measuring body fat.

Mrs Goldie, of St Catherine Street, Banff, said: “The clinic has been running for a year and it’s good to get this kind of recognition.

“The service is educational in its broadest sense and we help people with obesity problems devise their own plans to tackle it.”

The service is funded through the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, as part of a project run by the Centre for Obesity Research and Epidemiology.

Centre director Professor Iain Broom said: “Research carried out by us has proved that many distressing conditions associated with obesity can be avoided if people lose weight and sustain the loss.

“This success underlines the importance of taking research into practice and it is vitally important that projects such as these continue to support the community.”