The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a draft quality standard recommending annual Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height measurements for adults with long-term conditions to help prevent weight-related complications.
A consultation has been launched to gather feedback from healthcare professionals and commissioners on the feasibility of implementing these proposals within the NHS.
The draft quality standard calls for yearly BMI measurements for all patients with long-term conditions and additional waist-to-height measurements for those with a BMI below 35.
NICE stated that these annual measurements will help identify individuals at risk of weight-related complications earlier, enabling them to receive timely support to prevent future health issues.
Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at NICE, explained: “These simple annual measurements create opportunities for early intervention and conversations about long-term health and wellbeing.”
“By identifying trends before they become problems, clinical practitioners can help people prevent more serious health complications down the line.”
He emphasised that tracking BMI and waist-to-height ratio annually is “a powerful tool” in preventing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other obesity-related health issues.
Currently, while people with long-term conditions undergo routine physical health checks, BMI and waist-to-height measurements are not consistently recorded.
NICE’s new approach aims to address this inequality in care.
Its draft quality standard focuses on adults with conditions such as COPD, diabetes, heart failure, learning disabilities, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, and stroke, though this isn't a definitive list.
“We want to hear from healthcare professionals and commissioners during the consultation period to understand whether the proposals we've made can be implemented in the NHS,” said Dr Rebecca Payne, GP and chair of quality standards advisory committee at NICE.
NICE’s draft quality standard also stresses the importance of improving access to weight management services for people with learning disabilities, providing information on available interventions, and ensuring follow-up care for those prescribed weight management medicines or discharged from bariatric surgery services.
The consultation, which opened on 18 March, will run until 15 April 2025, with the final quality standard expected in August 2025.
