DOCTORS should stop worrying about offending obese patients and offer them help to control their weight, Oxford University experts say.

Even if overweight people saw their GP on an unrelated matter, the researchers said they should be offered places on programmes such as Weight Watchers through the NHS.

Their study found those who were referred lost an average of 2.4kg.

Lead author Professor Paul Aveyard, who is a practising GP, said: "Doctors can be concerned about offending their patients by discussing their weight, but evidence from this trial shows that they should be much less worried.

"Our study found a brief, 30-second conversation, followed by help booking the first appointment on to a community weight loss programme, leads to weight loss and is welcomed by patients.

"On average, people consult their doctor five times a year, meaning there is huge opportunity to deliver this low-cost intervention on a large scale."

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  • Those who were referred lost an average of 2.4kg. Pic: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Dr Helen Salisbury, who practices at the Jericho Health Centre, said the results were 'interesting' but there was still the need for a balancing act. 

According to Public Health England about 13 per cent of adults in Oxfordshire are obese between 2012 and 2014.

She said: "That study suggests that patients might mind less than we think. 
"I have certainly had patients who have voiced real offence, when they come for treatment for a urine infection, being talked to about their weight. 

"If very time you see your GP or nurse they nag you about your weight, you might decide you don't want to go. It might put people off.

"You need to be very sensitive to what the situation is. But if you have an ongoing relationship you might think it's an appropriate time."

As part of the study, 137 medics challenged almost 1,900 patients about their weight during routine consultations unrelated to weight loss.

At the end of the appointments, patients were randomly given one of two 30-second interventions.

Half were offered a 12-week weight management programme free on the NHS. The other half were advised by their GP that losing weight would benefit their health.

All of the participants were weighed at the first consultation, then at three months they were asked whether they had taken any action to manage their weight, then weighed again at 12 months.

Three quarters of those invited on the weight loss programme agreed to go and 40 per cent attended, according to the study published in The Lancet.

People who were referred to the programme lost an average of 2.4kg compared with 1kg in the control group.

Four fifths of participants (81 per cent) across both groups found the GP's intervention "appropriate and helpful", while just 0.2 per cent found it "inappropriate and unhelpful".

Rachel Clark, health promotion manager at the World Cancer Research Fund, added: "We live in a society where being overweight or obese is becoming the norm, but this needs to change as people are putting themselves at risk of developing a number of serious health conditions including 11 common cancers."

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: "It's important that GPs talk to their overweight and obese patients about losing weight and help them to find further support, as many do already. An extra 30 seconds could make all the difference; it doesn't take long and can be raised in a supportive and sensitive manner."