Weight Management: Practical Skills for Medical Staff and Pharmacists

Facilitators: Pauline Douglas & Kathryn Duff

NEW COURSE!

Obesity is one of the most significant public health challenges facing healthcare services today. Medical staff and pharmacists are uniquely placed to support individuals with weight management, whether through routine consultations, medication reviews or opportunistic health conversations.

This interactive training course will provide participants with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to engage in supportive, evidence-based weight management discussions. The course covers assessment techniques including BMI and waist circumference, recognising sarcopenic obesity, understanding the role of diet and lifestyle interventions, and exploring the appropriate use of weight loss medications.

Through practical case studies, role play and communication exercises, participants will develop skills in delivering brief weight management interventions, addressing weight stigma, supporting behaviour change and knowing when to refer to specialist services. The course will also highlight local resources and community-based support available to patients.

Ideal for doctors, pharmacists and other prescribing clinicians, this course takes a realistic and compassionate approach to supporting people living with overweight and obesity, helping healthcare professionals make every contact count.

Course Aim

To equip medical staff and pharmacists with the knowledge, skills and confidence to assess, discuss and support weight management in clinical practice, using evidence-based interventions, compassionate communication and appropriate referral pathways.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the scale of overweight and obesity and identify populations at increased risk.
• Understand the health consequences of excess weight and the factors contributing to obesity.
• Undertake and interpret weight-related assessments, including BMI and waist circumference, while recognising their limitations and considering ethnic diversity.
• Explain the importance of body composition, including the recognition of sarcopenic obesity (obesity with reduced lean muscle mass).
• Identify practical first steps to support individuals with weight management.
• Recognise that weight management approaches should be personalised and tailored to individual needs, circumstances and health conditions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of current weight management medications, including their role, limitations, monitoring requirements, red flags and considerations for long-term weight maintenance.
• Understand the impact of weight stigma on individuals and apply a compassionate, non-judgemental approach to care.
• Discuss the role of healthy eating and identify sources of evidence-based nutrition information.
• Apply behaviour change techniques and communication skills to support effective weight management conversations.
• Deliver brief opportunistic interventions using a "Making Every Contact Count" approach.
• Provide appropriate written and verbal advice that complements care delivered by the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Identify when referral to a Dietitian is indicated and understand how best to support individuals receiving dietetic care.
• Signpost patients to local weight management, physical activity and community support services.

Full course content coming soon

Cost:

• BDA Member £295
• Non-Member £410