Weight Services Guidance

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value based on an adult’s height and weight, this is used as a screening tool to estimate if a person has a healthy body weight. It is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. While BMI is useful for general population health, it does not distinguish between muscle mass and fat. To calculate your BMI, you can use the NHS BMI calculator here: Calculate your body mass index (BMI) – NHS – NHS

For most adults, if your BMI is:

• below 18.5 – you’re in the underweight range
• 18.5 to 24.9 – you’re in the healthy weight range
• 25 to 29.9 – you’re in the overweight range
• 30 to 39.9 – you’re in the obese range
• 40 or above – you’re in the severely obese range

If you have an Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background you’ll need to use a lower BMI score to measure overweight and obesity:

• 23 to 27.4 – you’re in the overweight range
• 27.5 or above – you’re in the obese range

BMI score has some limitations because it measures whether a person is carrying too little or too much weight but not enough or too much fat. For example, people who are very muscular, like professional sportspeople, can have a high BMI without much fat.

But for most people, BMI is a useful indication of whether they’re a healthy weight.

Problems associated with a high BMI

Overweight and obesity may increase your risk for many health problems—especially if you carry extra fat around your waist and major organs. Reaching and staying at a healthy weight can help prevent these problems, stop them from getting worse, or even make them go away. You can find out more information about obesity here: Obesity – NHS

You can check if you are eligible for any specialist weight management services on the tab below

Specialist Weight Management Services – Adults

You may be eligible for a specialist weight management service. However, these services require you to meet strict criteria and are not suitable for everyone due to strict exclusions. For full transparency, the services available locally are:

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme is a scheme that can deliver evidence-based behavioural interventions to individuals at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and associated long-term illnesses, with the aim to prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Prevention Programmes – South & West

Type 2 Diabetes Pathway to Remission Programme is a 12-month programme to support people living with Type 2 diabetes to achieve weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. This will enable them to better control their blood sugar levels – reducing the need for diabetes- related medication and potentially achieving remission of their type 2 diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme – South & West

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP) offers online access to tier 2 weight management services for those living with obesity plus diabetes or hypertension or both. NHS Digital Weight Management Programme – South & West

Tier 3 Weight Management Programme is to support clinically meaningful weight reduction, leading to a reduction in the impact of weight-related comorbidities and associated health risks. Enable patients to achieve and maintain sustainable behaviour change to support with long-term weight management and relapse prevention And to improve wider health and wellbeing outcomes, including mental health, psychological wellbeing, self-esteem and overall quality of life. Adult Weight Management Services – South & West

Oviva provide a digital Tier 3 Weight Management Programme, inclusive of GLP-1 medication prescribing. They have contracts in place for delivery of this with other ICBs and are accepting referrals from all ICBs in England under the Right to Choose Framework. Oviva Primary Care Information – South & West

A low BMI (Body Mass Index) generally means a person has a BMI below 18.5kg/m2, classifying them as underweight. This indicates a body weight that may be too low for optimal health, potentially leading to malnutrition, weakened immunity, nutrient deficiencies, or underlying medical conditions. Malnutrition – NHS

Sometimes your BMI can drop below the optimal range through unintentional weight loss, for more guidance and support on this, see the NHS website: Unintentional weight loss – NHS

There are many ways to gain weight, we would recommend seeing the NHS website for support and guidance around this: Healthy ways to gain weight – NHS

It is also recommended to see your GP is you believe that your BMI is below the optimal health range.

A healthy lifestyle can come in many different ways, such as getting support for your finances or find ways that you can begin to be more active. You can find out more about supporting your own Health & Wellbeing through our website: Support for our patients « Albany Surgery