Weight management services

Find out more about the different weight management services and support available locally

There are many weight loss and weight management programmes available in mid and south Essex to help you achieve a healthy weight. 

You can refer yourself into some of the healthy lifestyle programmes below without needing to visit your GP practice. Some of the structured weight management programmes you can only access via a referral from your GP. 

Universal Weight Management Services 

These services are available for anyone who would like ideas, information, and details of any FREE apps that can support them to lead a healthier lifestyle and achieve their weight loss goals. You can also find information about local activities in mid and south Essex. 

Tier 2 Weight Management Services

These services are available for FREE and are aimed at residents who need more structured support to help them achieve their weight loss goals.  

The programmes offer support with behaviour change, setting goals, and making healthy lifestyle changes. These services are not able to provide medical support (weight loss medications) or psychological support.

The options listed below do not require a GP referral to access them: 

There are other weight management services available via GP referral. Your GP will be able to advise if they are appropriate for you: 

Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services

Tier 3 specialist weight management services provide dietetic intervention, psychological support, physical activity advice, and medication where appropriate.

NHS Specialist Weight Management Services (also known as Tier 3 weight management services) are provided by Oviva in mid Essex, and by Morelife in Thurrock, Basildon and Brentwood, Castle Point and Rochford, and Southend. 

A new provider is currently being procured, which will be commissioned to deliver non-consultant led specialist weight management services across the whole of mid and south Essex. The new provider will be in place from 1 April 2025, and only referrals for patients who meet the new criteria will be accepted when referrals reopen in 2025.

Access to the Tier 3 weight management service is available only via GP referral. To be eligible for referral you must have already completed one of the Tier 2 services listed above and meet the below eligibility criteria: 

  • Residents aged 18+ with a BMI ≥40.0 AND meet at least one of the following criteria:  
    • Have obstructive sleep apnoea, severe asthma, cor pulmonale, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, or receive CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) 
    • Have ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, or a *QRISK score >20% 
    • Have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus 
    • Have subfertility 
    • Have oesophagitis, severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or Barrett’s oesophagus.  
    • Confirmation that a Tier 2 weight management programme has been completed within 12 months of the date of referral, unless the patient’s GP has confirmed that Tier 2 is not suitable or appropriate for the individual. 

*QRISK is a clinical scoring tool used to assess risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

  • Aged 17 years or under 
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding 
  • Active eating disorders 
  • Have undergone bariatric surgery in the past 12 months 
  • Pre-diabetes more appropriate for the NHS diabetes prevention programme 
  • Previously attended a Tier 3 weight management programme in the last 2 years from date of discharge 
  • Referrals can be made once the following conditions are stable:
    • Alcohol or drug use 
    • Hypothyroidism 
    • Cushing’s syndrome 
    • Mental illness  

In line with NICE guidance, in mid and south Essex access to the weight loss drug called Wegovy™ remains available through specialist Tier 3 weight management services only. It is not available through prescription by GPs or via other weight management services.

Updates to Tier 3 Eligibility Criteria

Tier 4 Weight Management Services

The Tier 4 weight management service includes severe and complex obesity services such as bariatric surgery and bariatric medicine.

Access to the Tier 4 weight management service is available only via GP referral. To be eligible for referral you must have already completed a Tier 3 weight management programme and meet the criteria outlined in the service restriction policy:

075 Specialist obesity services

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