The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has outlined a new set of clinical practice guidelines to help the fight against obesity.

With about 60 per cent of adult Australians classified as overweight or obese, the NHRMC new guidelines are devised to assist clinicians to start personal discussions with patients who may benefit from weight loss.

“Support from primary healthcare providers through tailored weight management programs can make this personal challenge achievable”, NHMRC CEO Professor Anderson said.

Intended for use by general practitioners, general practice nurses, primary care health professionals and allied health professionals, the guidelines follow the primary care ‘5As’ framework: ask and assess, advise, assist, arrange.

The ‘ask and assess’ approach aims to identify people who will benefit from help including any factors that are contributing to their excess weight. Providers will then use the guidelines to ‘advise’ individuals before ‘assisting’ the individual to develop a tailored weight loss program.

The ‘arrange’ approach assists the individual through referrals, follow up visits and other support to lose weight and keep it off. If one approach isn’t successful, the guidelines support a review and revision of the plan.

“The evidence underpinning this new guideline tells us that a 5% initial weight loss can reduce the risk of health problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” Professor Anderson said.

The guidelines can be found here