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Researchers from the Sheffield Hallam University surveyed just under 400 practice nurses, health visitors and district nurses based in the north of England.

They found just one in seven practices provided well-developed support programmes for obese patients, although 89 per cent of the nurses recognised that obesity advice and support was part of their role. More than half said obesity was the origin of their overweight patients' medical problems.

A third carried out weight assessments in a typical week, but another 36 per cent admitted that they had never done a weight assessment in their current post. In addition, only a fifth of all nurses felt that their interventions were successful in helping patients lose weight.

Less than one in five were aware of a specific clinical protocol at their practice for tackling obesity, despite recent NICE guidance, and only 11 per cent were aware of a lead clinician responsible for obesity management.

However, the study also found that while 54 per cent of nurses felt empathy for obese patients, 4 per cent felt disgust.

Many of the nurses surveyed also had weight problems themselves with 29 per cent overweight and 14 per cent classed as obese. Those who were overweight themselves were far less likely to hold negative attitudes towards obese patients.

Lead researcher Dr Ian Brown, said he feared that front-line staff are not receiving the training and support they need to tackle obesity, and any training programme should also address nurses' attitudes.

A separate survey of 202 GPs by the online resource 'Change for life' found that although most GPs felt behavioural change was the most important factor in weight loss, only 19 per cent used behavioural change therapy because of a lack of funding and resources.

The findings follow a leaked report to the government that predicts childhood obesity will continue rising until 2050 unless there are dramatic changes in people's lifestyles.

J Adv Nurs 2007; 59.4: 329-41.

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