Management guidelines for overweight clients



Supporting Healthier Choices for Overweight Clients

The following suggestions will help you support clients who are overweight or obese, to lose weight. You may use a Body Mass Index (BMI) reference chart to work out someone’s BMI. The table below helps to classify if their BMI is in the overweight or obese category.

| |Body Mass Index (BMI) kg/m2 |

|Healthy weight |18.5-24.9 |

|Overweight |25-29.9 |

|Obese |More than 30 |

1. Offer 3 regular meals - Breakfast, a light meal such as soup and sandwiches or a jacket potato with filling; and a main meal. Menus should follow general healthy eating advice.

2. At least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables daily is recommended. Try to offer fruit and/or vegetables at each meal time. Fruit that has been chopped up and prepared may be more enjoyable. One small glass (150ml) of pure fruit juice can count as one portion of fruit.

3. Offer high fibre foods such as wholemeal bread and wholegrain cereals (Branflakes, wheat biscuits, porridge) instead of white bread, sugar coated cereals, crisped rice cereals and cornflakes.

4. Offer sugar free drinks such as sugar free diluting squash, diet drinks, water, tea or coffee without sugar. Artificial sweeteners can be used instead of sugar.

5. Offer lower fat foods such as low fat spread and semi skimmed milk.

6. Offer fruit, low fat or diet yoghurts as an alternative to puddings.

7. Encourage fruit as snacks. Try to limit high fat and high sugar snacks such as sweets, chocolate, cakes, biscuits and crisps. These high fat and high sugar snacks may be given occasionally once or twice a week; for example a small packet of crisps or a small chocolate bar.

8. Limit intake of high fat foods such as chips, potato waffles, roast potatoes, pies, pastry and take-aways. These foods should be limited to once a week.

9. Support clients to be more active, this may include, walking instead of using a car or bus, using stairs instead of lift and housework such as vacuuming.

10. Encourage regular exercise including walking, swimming, dancing or gym sessions. Current recommendations are to be active for 30 minutes on 5 days a week. Build up gradually and check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure about a client commencing an exercise programme.

11. Reduce amount of sedentary activities (watching TV, using the computer)

Useful websites: nhs.uk/livewell/healthy-eating.co.uk

takelifeon.co.uk

Produced by NHS Tayside Dietitians, Strathmartine Centre Produced in December 2010 Review: December 2012

knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/taysidenutrition/learning-disabilities

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