Source: home.bt.com<\/p>\n
A lack of consistency in reporting on obesity across the UK has created a postcode lottery for patient care, according to a new study.<\/p>\n
Researchers from the University of Glasgow looked at\u00a0NHS weight management programmes and\u00a0found a wide variation in inclusion criteria, referral routes, delivery format and programme length and cost.<\/p>\n
The programmes are evaluated and report on results in different ways, meaning direct comparisons cannot be made between different services.<\/p>\n
A panel of experts brought together by the researchers hope their suggestions on reporting programme successes will help reduce what they say is the \u201cpostcode lottery\u201d of obesity care for patients.<\/p>\n
Lead author of the study Dr Jennifer Logue said: \u201cWe know that many obesity and weight management programmes are highly effective for patients, however, understanding what initiatives work best are key to prolonged funding and best patient care.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy having the information on how each programme works we can start to better understand what works best for patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will lead to improved outcomes for all services, potential cost savings and a move towards less variation in what is delivered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lack of consistent and comparable information has led to those who commission and pay for these services showing reluctance to fund more programmes as there is little evidence of what works best and what does not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Logue, now at Lancaster University, added: \u201cBy applying a consistent pattern of evaluation to all obesity and overweight programmes, hopefully we will be able to prove just how effective many of these initiatives can be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[51,208,55,476],"class_list":["post-3209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weight-loss-gain","tag-obesity","tag-overweight","tag-patients","tag-weight-loss"],"yoast_head":"\n