People with specific long-term conditions such as diabetes and
heart disease should have their BMI and waist-to-height ratio
recorded at least once a year, NICE has said in draft guidance.
The draft guidance, published today (Tuesday 18 March 2025) for
consultation, says that adults with long-term conditions should
have their BMI recorded annually, with additional waist-to-height
measurements for those with a BMI under 35.
The new approach will help identify people at risk of
weight-related complications so they can be offered appropriate
support to prevent future ill-health.
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 quality standard does not provide a definitive list of
long-term conditions but suggests services could focus on
patients with COPD, diabetes (type 1 or type 2 diabetes or at
high risk of developing type 2 diabetes), dyslipidaemia (abnormal
levels of fats in the blood), heart failure, learning disability,
obstructive sleep apnoea, peripheral arterial disease, polycystic
ovary syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder or other psychoses, and stroke or transient ischemic
attack.
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.”
The draft quality standard also covers:
- Supporting people with learning disabilities to access
overweight and obesity management services
- Providing up-to-date information on available local
interventions and national programmes
- Giving advice for maintaining changes and support for
improving health and wellbeing after completing a behavioural
intervention
- Ensuring wraparound care focusing on diet, nutrition and
physical activity for adults prescribed medicines for weight
management
- Annual follow-up for adults discharged from bariatric surgery
services.
Dr Rebecca Payne, GP and chair of the quality standards
advisory committee, said: “We want to hear from
healthcare professionals and commissioners during the
consultation period to understand whether the proposals we have
made can be implemented in the NHS.
“NICE must focus on what matters most and in areas where it can
make the biggest difference. We expect these changes to
demonstrate the impact we are having on the lives of people with
weight related conditions.
“Once the consultation period closes, the committee will meet
again to discuss the responses, and if necessary, amend the
statements. Our final quality statements will be published on the
NICE website at the conclusion of this process.”
The draft quality standard is open for public consultation from
18 March to 15 April 2025. It follows the publication of an
updated guideline on overweight and
obesity management in January 2025.
The final quality standard is expected to be published in August
2025.
ENDS
About the guidance
- The draft quality standard will be available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-qs10183
