MANAGING OBESITY AND WEIGHT LOSS

A 1-day on site seminar on the management of obesity using motivational skills and a patient-centered approach

OBESITY The National Audit Office report in February 2001 found that obesity costs the NHS at least a half a billion pounds each year. The NHS Plan has recognized the urgency of dealing with this ever growing problem. The NSF for Diabetes states that 'individuals at increased risk of type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk if they are supported to change their lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, losing weight and increasing their physical activity levels'. Health professionals in the frontline, however, are often frustrated by patients' non-compliance with their recommendations. Evidence-based Studies show that traditional persuasion techniques are inadequate to achieve the necessary lifestyle change. A client-centred approach, in line with the New NHS strategy, has been shown to achieve better results. This seminar is designed to demonstrate how Primary Care teams can become skilled in motivational interviewing techniques to help patients take responsibility for their own health and overcome previous resistance to change

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

Nurses, Doctors, (including GPs) Health Visitors, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and other Primary Care Staff including dietitians. Occupational Health Staff, Diabetes & CHD specialists, NSF Leads, Counsellors

WHAT IF I DO NOT FIT INTO THESE CATEGORIES?

The seminar is suitable for anyone working in healthcare whose patients/clients are affected by obesity. Leisure Service Professionals with responsibility for PE. will also benefit.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE SEMINAR?

By the end of the seminar, participants will:

• Recognise the most common 'traps' that often create resistance to lifestyle change necessary for weight loss
• Be able to raise the issue of lifestyle change with a patient in a way that does not elicit resistance
• Be able to help patients themselves identify the benefits of weight loss and the drawbacks of their current state
• Learn and practise strategies that emphasise personal choice
• Be able to use a range of active listening skills that will enable patients to clarify their own feelings about the need to lose weight and the changes involved
• Be able to identify patients' current position in the stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, relapse) and guide them accordingly

PROGRAMME

0930-1600

Session 1: Why such poor compliance? - 1 hour

• Weight loss failure statistics; current trends and future risks
• Evidence from the clinical setting
• Participants experience and needs
• The clinical setting for weight loss: sharing of best structures
• Common patient excuses for not losing weight; common traps and alternative approaches
• How to avoid common traps: an exercise

Session 2: Motivational Interviewing in practice - 1 hour

• A video demonstration of Motivational Interviewing for Successful Weight Loss
• Discussion of video
• Reflective listening to demonstrate empathy
• An exercise in reflective listening
• Debrief

LUNCH

Session 3: Raising the chances of successful weight loss - 1 hour

• Discussion of the common fears of weight loss
• Eliciting self-motivational statements: use of scaling and checklists
• Looking for past successful weight loss: boosting confidence
• Dealing with binge eating, comfort eating and relapse: use of cognitive and behavioural techniques

TEA

Session 4: Ready for action: setting up a Weight Management programme - 1 hour

• What support structures work
• Practicalities in the clinical setting
• Getting the balance right between diet sheets and motivation
• How to measure progress

LEARNING SUPPORT

• Participants will be encouraged to bring their clinical experience to the seminar and to share real patient cases that have challenged them and receive help in resolving similar cases in the future
• Small group work will allow participants to practise the techniques learned, in a gentle environment
• Video clips will be shown of successful Motivational Interviewing in the Health Care environment
• Notes will be provided that include checklists and visual aids for use with patients back in the workplace
• A carefully chosen reading list will support participants as they apply their learning in practice

SUPPORT AFTER THE COURSE

After the course back in the clinical setting, it is hoped that participants will practise the skills learned. Issues may well arise with which they would like support. All participants are entitled to join two one-hour telephone conference sessions in the two months after their course. These will be held in the evenings and will be led by Dr Judy Citron. Participants may be from different Trusts/Authorities and may be from a range of clinical settings.

SEMINAR FORMAT

The seminar is normally given as a 1-day training as above to allow for the greatest opportunity to practise the skills presented. A ½ day option is also on offer.

THE TRAINER

JUDY CITRON has a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from The Institute of Education London University. She has been working directly with patients for 5 years motivating them towards lifestyle change and weight loss. Judy trains her own team of Diet Coaches to work with clients by telephone. As a former yo-yo dieter herself, she is well placed to empathise with clients and to explain the dieter's mindset to her team. Her methodology has also been influenced by Stephen Rollnick and his Motivational Interviewing; by James Prochaska and C.Diclemente and their model of behaviour change; and by S de Shazar of Brief Solution Focused Therapy. Dr Citron has published 'The Little Book of Slimming Tips' (Metro Publishers 2000) as well as a cassette 'How to end yo-yo dieting'. She is a regular columnist for national and regional newspapers on weight loss and motivation.

TALKING LIFE specialises in seminars for health professionals. Its range of seminars have been attended by thousands of health professionals from within and without the NHS.

What delegates say

‘I left the seminar motivated & with a far better understanding of patients’

‘Will I be able to use what I’ve learned? Absolutely – 100%’
(Health Professional, Dorset)