A pragmatic evaluation of the NHS Tayside weight management service
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pragmatic evaluation of the delivery and acceptability of the NHS Tayside weight management service during and after pregnancy
IRAS ID
205604
Contact name
Annie S Anderson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 28 days
Research summary
NHS Tayside started developing a maternal weight management intervention (optiMUM) in 2010. Formative work described challenges to the provision of advice on weight management by midwives, including confidence in discussing body size and knowledge of the subject, highlighting the importance of training, ongoing support and definition of the midwife’s role within the multi-disciplinary team.
The optiMUM service has evolved. All midwives have now received training to deliver weight management advice for obese women. The programme is based on NICE recommendations for pregnant women with a BMI >30kg/m2 and is integrated within routine NHS antenatal care.
All women are advised of their BMI and the magnitude of maternal and fetal risk associated with obesity, are encouraged to be physically active and are provided with structured advice on dietary intake.
A set of 7 questions are used to prompt discussion on food habits (e.g. Do you have breakfast?), challenges and opportunities for changing diet and activity choices.
The intervention information is provided in a six page colour booklet which is inserted into patient’s handheld maternity notes. Body weight is recorded at each ante-natal visit facilitating discussion by midwives.
In the postpartum period, all obese women are offered access to a free, 12 week Weight Watchers® (WW) programme in the first postnatal year. Uptake of this service is being monitored by WW in conjunction with NHS Tayside.The new optiMUM programme is now fully implemented across the three Tayside areas. As an NHS intervention, the optiMUM programme has many potentially strong features (inclusivity, wide reach, embedded within existing services) but little is known about the delivery and acceptability of the optiMUM programmes and WW referral. The aim of this study is to assess the delivery and acceptability, by midwives and by patients, of antenatal and postnatal obesity management services offered by NHS Tayside.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1042
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion