Ministry of HealthThursday 30 September 2010, 10:20AM
Media release from Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health today released the implementation plan for
clinical guidelines which frontline health care workers can use
when helping patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Ministry Chief Advisor Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the implementation
plan, Implementing the Clinical Guidelines for Weight Management in
New Zealand 2010/11, outlines activities that are being developed
to support frontline health care workers in primary care and
community settings who provide healthy weight management advice and
treatment to patients and consumers.
"The goals for this current financial year are to encourage and
support frontline health care workers to increasingly implement the
Guidelines, and to encourage consumers to act and seek assistance
more often," he said.
"We acknowledge that many working in the area of weight management
are busy, and are already successfully implementing the strategies
and activities outlined in the plan. Our aim is to support the
sector to do more," Dr Bloomfield said.
Obesity rates have been rising in New Zealand since the 1990s.
Obesity, which is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, is
more prevalent amongst Maori, Pacific and South Asian
communities.
The Guidelines outline a four-step approach which frontline health
care workers can use when helping patients achieve and maintain a
healthy weight:
1. raise awareness
2. identify need and the context for action
3. determine options for action [Food, Activity and Behaviour (FAB)
strategies]
4. maintain contact and support.
The Guidelines and the Implementation Plan are available on the
Ministry of Health website:
Clinical Guidelines for Weight Management in New Zealand
Adults
Clinical Guidelines for Weight Management in New Zealand Children
and Young People
Implementing the Clinical Guidelines for Weight Management in New
Zealand: 2010/11
Future communications, including the e-learning tool, will be
available on the weight management
website:http://weightmanagement.hiirc.org.nz.