Millions of patients will be weighed and measured by their GP every year so they can be warned if they start to get too fat.
Their weight, height and waist circumference will be added to their NHS medical records and tracked over their lifetime.
Those who creep into the overweight or obese category will be given advice on how to shed the pounds and told their health is at risk if they fail to take action.
Doctors could refer ballooning patients to slimming, cooking or exercise classes or to specialist clinics where they may be prescribed weight-loss jabs.
Officials hope the move will better support the estimated 15 million people in England and Wales living with long-term conditions and identify those at risk of developing weight-related complications.
But doctors have been told to tread carefully amid fears they could offend patients who are sensitive about their weight.
The new policy is included in draft guidance on weight management published today by the care watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It applies to those living with the likes of diabetes, heart disease, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Millions of patients will be weighed and measured by their GP every year so they can be warned if they start to get too fat
Healthcare professionals will be told to record the body mass index of these patients each year, with additional waist-to-height measurements for those with a BMI under 35.
The guidance says: ‘Healthcare professionals should seek permission in a sensitive, non-judgmental way before discussing weight, because people may then be more receptive to offers of support that could have a positive impact on their health.’
It warns NHS staff against wrongly attributing all health issues to patients’ excess weight and says they must ‘respect the person’s choice’ if they do not wish to discus their weight.
More than six in ten adults in England (64.0 per cent) are overweight or obese, up from 61.2 per cent in 2016.
The NHS website says obesity is a ‘serious health concern that increases the risk of many other health conditions’, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke.
It adds: ‘Living with overweight and obesity can also affect your quality of life and contribute to mental health problems, such as depression, and can also affect self-esteem.’
Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at NICE, said: ‘These simple annual measurements create opportunities for early intervention and conversations about long-term health and wellbeing.
‘By identifying trends before they become problems, clinical practitioners can help people prevent more serious health complications down the line.
‘Annual monitoring of BMI and waist-to-height ratio is a powerful tool to help prevent problems developing such as the onset of diabetes, heart disease or other obesity-related conditions.
‘Once implemented, these proposed quality standards could significantly improve health outcomes for people with long-term conditions by ensuring consistent, timely support for weight management across all healthcare settings.’
NICE has previously approved the use of weight loss jabs Wegovy and Mounjaro on the NHS but their rollout is being severely rationed due to their cost and a lack of capacity in specialist clinics.
Demand for the drugs, which can see people lose up to a fifth of their body weight, continues to grow with half a million people now estimated to use them in the UK.
The new NICE guidance adds: ‘Stigma from health and care professionals can act as a barrier to accessing care for people living with overweight, obesity or central adiposity and it can lead to worse mental and physical health outcomes during treatment.
‘People having discussions with health and care professionals about living with overweight, obesity or central adiposity should be communicated with in a person-centred manner using non-judgemental and non-stigmatising language.’
Healthcare professionals will be told to record the body mass index of these patients each year, with additional waist-to-height measurements for those with a BMI under 35
While annual physical checks already take place for people with long term conditions, the recording of someone’s BMI and waist-to-height ratio is not always taking place or added to a health record.
NICE hopes to reduce this ‘inequality in care’.
The draft quality standard also covers supporting people with learning disabilities to access overweight and obesity management services.
Giving advice for maintaining changes and support for improving health and wellbeing after completing a behavioural intervention is also outlined, as is ensuring ‘wraparound care’ focusing on diet, nutrition and physical activity for adults prescribed medicines for weight management.
The draft guidance is now open for public consultation until April 15 and the final document is expected to be published in August.
