A community pharmacist based in the East of England has published significant results from his weight management service, showing that pharmacies are ideally placed to provide practical weight-loss support and take the strain off the NHS.
Pharmacist Gareth Evans
For 17 years, Gareth Evans has offered Waistaway – personalised weight-loss plans and support, including for people with Type 2 diabetes, based upon the recognised NICE guidelines. There are choices of Waistaway diets and products so that it’s best suited to individual’s needs, and some include meal replacement programmes.
Data from Evans’ pharmacy clinics show dramatic results with mean weight losses of 10.1% and has helped over 1,000 dieters gain medical benefit through pharmacist-led, non-medicated weight-loss support and importantly at no cost to the NHS.
This study into the service proves pharmacy can take a critical healthcare professional role in weight management support, offering the NHS a route to potentially huge savings. Results from the study show that:
• A greater than 5% reduction in weight resulted in significant improvements in Type 2 diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• A total of 1,875 dieting sequences were recorded from 1,023 dieters. In 1,261 (67.3%) sequences, a medically beneficial weight loss of >5% was achieved.
• The results demonstrate that community pharmacies can make a significant contribution to reducing the obesity epidemic at no cost to state-funded health systems.
Evans says: “We hope this publication creates more action to give true weight loss the serious consideration it demands, by the government and healthcare sectors, and the public. Pharmacy is ideally placed to reduce the clinical and financial strain many “lifestyle” diseases cause the NHS, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.”
“100% lifesaver by diet”
One Waistaway participant, Mr M.G, 55, treated for high blood pressure, said: “One thing for sure, had I not been on the diet I’d have probably had a different outcome... A 100% lifesaver by diet.”
He says his survival of a heart attack is firmly down to his successful 6st weight loss using Waistaway, and he has since undergone a successful heart bypass.
Waistaway is available in select locations in the East of England: Peterborough (Hampton and Wansford) Huntingdon and Wellingborough.
Read the full study results HERE and find out more on Waistaway HERE.
