Treatment of obesity in mental health practice
Intended for healthcare professionals

Mental Health Practice

continuing professional development treatment of obesity Previous    

Treatment of obesity in mental health practice

Denise Thomas Chief dietitian (Mental Health), St James Hospital, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
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Obesity is often inextricably linked to a person's mental health problem. Nurses must undertake careful assessments of the person's weight problem if their interventions are to be effective

Aims and Intended Learning Outcomes

The aim of this article is to enable mental health nurses to assess a person's weight and evaluate whether they are overweight or obese. The nurse's role in offering the appropriate treatment for weight problems is also discussed. After reading this article you should be able to:

Explain the reasons why a person with a mental health problem may be overweight or obese.

Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) and understand the BMI categories.

Discuss how mental health nurses can assess and bring about behavioural change in patients and introduce weight management.

Recognise when to refer an obese patient for specialist advice.

Mental Health Practice. 2, 8, 29-35. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2.8.29.s22

Keywords :

■ Obesity - ■ Eating disorders - ■ Nutrition - These key words are based on the subject headings from the British Nursing Index. - This article has been subject to double-blind review.

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01 May 1999 / Vol 2 issue 8

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