Albury, C., Webb, H., Stokoe, E., Ziebland, S.,Koshiaris, C., Lee, J.J., & Aveyard, P. Supportive and effective conversations about weight management referrals. Adult weight management: short conversations with patients. (2021). University of Oxford. Available online: https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/supportive-and-effective-conversations-about-weight-management-referrals

Healthcare professionals working in primary care are encouraged by guidelines to offer people with obesity a free referral to a weight management service, like Slimming World or WW.

Ability to offer these referrals is increasing. However healthcare professionals have stated that they are unsure how to make these offers, as they’re not sure what to say.

In this video we provide specific, evidence-based, information about what to say when making an offer of referral. Following this advice will support clinicians to have supportive and effective conversations.

Find out more about our research and the evidence underpinning this video here:

• Albury, C., Webb, H., Stokoe, E., Ziebland, S.,Koshiaris, C., Lee, J.J., & Aveyard, P. (2023)  Relationship Between Clinician Language and the Success of Behavioral Weight Loss Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Cohort Study. Annals of Internal Medicine, https://doi.org/10.7326/M22-2360
  
  
• Albury, C., Webb, H., Ziebland, S., Aveyard, P. & Stokoe, E. (2021) What happens when patients say “no” to offers of referral for weight loss? - Results and recommendations from a conversation analysis of primary care interactions. Patient Education and Counseling, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.08.017 
  
  
• Albury, C., Ziebland, S., Webb, H., Stokoe, E., & Aveyard, P. (2020) Discussing weight loss opportunistically and effectively in family practice:  A qualitative study of clinical interactions using conversation analysis in UK family practice. Family Practice, cmaa121, https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmaa121
  
  
• Albury, C., Stokoe, E., Webb, H., Ziebland, S., & Aveyard, P. (2018). GP-delivered brief weight loss interventions: a cohort study of patient responses and subsequent actions, using conversation analysis in UK primary care. British Journal of General Practice. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X698405