Weight management support (information for healthcare professionals)

Below is information on weight management support services which are available to residents across North Tyneside, ranging from tier 1 (universal interventions) up to tier 4 (bariatric surgery).

It is intended to be a guide for GPs and other HCPs within practices when discussing support options with patients.

Please ensure patients meet the eligibility criteria for the programme prior to referral and that the correct referral route is followed.

To be eligible for any of these programmes, patients must be a resident of North Tyneside or be registered with a North Tyneside GP surgery.

Patients should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and directed to the most appropriate intervention. Give consideration to eligibility criteria, readiness to change, and motivation levels.

Tier 1 support

Active North Tyneside

A wide range of activities and programmes patients can get involved with. Activities are either free or low cost to access. There are plenty of options available for all interests and fitness levels including football, tennis and walking groups. Explore this website for further details.

Sport England

Sport England has tips on simple and fun ways to get active, indoors and outdoors. There are ways for patients to be active from the comfort of their own homes and fitness challenges to take on to keep them motivated. Find more information on the Sport England website.

NHS Better Health

For patients looking to lose weight, get active, quit smoking or drink less. Better Health has lots of free tools and support including a free 12-week NHS weight loss plan. Patients can find out more on the Better Health web pages.

NHS Better Health Families

Helping parents to make healthier choices for their families. There are easy recipes for busy nights, sugar swap ideas, Disney themed activities and help to understand food labels.

Visit the Better Health Families web pages for more.

Healthier weight during and after pregnancy

Active Bump, Birth, Baby is a range of antenatal and postnatal programmes designed to help pregnant women and new mams to be physically active.

You can find more information on all of the programmes on the Bump, Birth, Baby web page.

Postnatal programmes require clearance to begin exercising from a GP at the 6-8 week appointment.

Tier 2 support

Support for children and young people

Healthy4Life

Healthy4Life is a free weight management programme for families with children who are residents, or pupils of a North Tyneside school.

The child/children’s BMI must be >91st centile (priority will be given to those >98th centile).

Over the course of 10 weeks in sessions after school, families will learn how to make healthy lifestyle changes. The programme is delivered to families in two groups, one where children are aged 4-7 and one where children are aged 8+.

Find out more on the Healthy4Life web page.

Teenage Gym

Teenage Gym is for young people aged between 14 and 17 who are residents, or students at North Tyneside schools, sixth forms or colleges. The young person’s BMI must be >91st centile (priority for those >98th centile).

The free three-month gym and swim membership supports young people to become more active, giving them unlimited access to facilities and an opportunity to familiarise themselves with leisure centres in North Tyneside.

The programme includes nutritional advice to help inform healthier food choices, and support from instructors to provide knowledge and guidance in gym settings.

Support for adults

North Tyneside Council funds a range of adult (18+ years) weight management programmes which are offered at various locations across the borough.

More detail on each of the programmes can be found at on the weight management web page.

Patients are supported on their journey to lose weight. There is an opportunity for patients to create connections with like-minded people going through the same experience in a supportive environment.

Places on all programmes are limited and strict eligibility criteria applies. Frequency in delivery of programmes varies throughout the year. For further information on any of the programmes listed such as dates, times and locations, email active@northtyneside.gov.uk or call 0191 643 7171.

Patients are required to self-refer onto these programmes:

  • Slimming World: 01773 483 256

  • The 12th Man: foundation.health@nufc.co.uk

  • Body Benefits programmes: 0191 643 7171 / active@northtyneside.gov.uk

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

The 12 week NHS Digital Weight Management Programme offers online access to weight management services for those living with obesity.

Services are for patients who have a BMI ≥30 and diagnosed diabetes or hypertension (or both). The BMI threshold is ≥27.5 for those with Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds.

With three levels of support and a choice of providers, it is designed to offer a personalised level of intervention to support people to manage their weight and improve their longer term health outcomes.

Patients will only be able to access this programme if they have a smartphone or computer with internet access.

Further information is available on the NHS England website.

Referral should be made via the e-RS system. Patients can also be referred via community pharmacies (self-referrals are not accepted).

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP)

The tailored healthy nutrition and exercise support programme aims to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Patients can be supported face-to-face, digitally (via app / online) or remotely (via video calls).

Further information can be found on the NHS Healthier You website.

Referrals using templates in the e-RS system (self-referrals available – after eligible blood test, by telephoning 0800 092 1191).

Eligibility criteria: Adults (18+ years) with no diabetes diagnosis, not pregnant at time of referral and at least one of the following:

  • (In the past 12 months) HbA1c between 42-47 mmol/mol or FPG between 5.5-6.9 mmol/l

  • 20+ score on Diabetes UK KYR score (https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start)

  • Women with previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes and (in the past 12 months) HbA1c <42 mmol/mol or FPG <5.5mmol/l

Tier 3 support

Specialist Weight Management Programme

A psychologically informed, multidisciplinary specialist weight management service (incorporating dietetics, physical activity and psychology) delivering a free 12 month programme for people who are:

  • Registered with a North Tyneside GP

  • Those with a BMI ≥35 (32.5 for Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds)

  • Those aged 18+ who aren’t pregnant

  • Those without a current or previous bariatric procedure in place

Offering one-to-one and group-based interventions both face to face or online, enabling individuals to:

  • Share their weight, eating and activity stories within the context of their lives

  • Become more physically active

  • Identify sustainable dietary changes

  • Overcome psychological barriers to change

  • Develop an individualised plan

People may have complex eating stories and complex needs, so it is helpful to have all relevant information included in referrals. Consider whether the person you are referring has sufficient stability in their mental health to enable them to engage with a self-management approach.

If your patient is motivated and meets eligibility criteria please make referrals for the Specialist Weight Management Programme to:

  • nhc-tr.healthyhearts@nhs.net

  • 0191 293 4251

Self referrals are not accepted.

For more information, visit the NHS Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website and search ‘Specialist weight management service’.

Tier 4 support

Patients wishing to be considered for bariatric surgery are required to work with tier 3 as part of the preparation for surgery.

A summary letter is sent to the patient and copied to the GP when referral to tier 4 is appropriate, with a prompt to complete the e-referral.

Social prescribing

Social prescribing can help patients with different social, emotional and practical needs by helping them find the right support to improve their health and wellbeing. Link Workers will take the time to explore what’s important to them and identify issues and challenges they would like to address. This may involve introducing patients to services, groups or activities in the local community. To access the service patients must be over 18 (including transition) and either a resident of North Tyneside or a registered patient of a North Tyneside practice. The simplest way to make a referral is to task a Link Worker attached to your practice.