NICE recommends annual BMI checks for long-term patients

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has proposed annual checks of Body Mass Index (BMI) for patients in England with long-term health conditions. This recommendation is part of draft guidance aimed at improving care and preventing obesity-related health issues. NICE believes that regular BMI and waist-to-height measurements can help identify patients at risk for complications related to weight. Currently, these measurements are not always performed during annual health checks for patients with long-term conditions. By standardizing these checks, NICE hopes to provide better health outcomes. Professor Jonathan Benger, NICE's deputy chief executive, emphasized that tracking BMI and waist-to-height ratios can help prevent serious health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease. These measurements can foster discussions about health before problems arise. NICE also highlighted the need for special support for people with learning disabilities, who are at a higher risk of obesity. The organization recommends tailored assistance to help these individuals access services that can aid in achieving a healthy lifestyle. In addition to BMI checks, NICE's draft recommendations include providing patients with information on local health interventions, supporting them in maintaining health improvements after treatment, and offering comprehensive care for those prescribed weight management medications. The proposed updates also suggest annual follow-ups for patients after bariatric surgery. While recommending BMI checks, recent expert opinions from a Lancet commission raised concerns about using BMI as the sole measure of health. They suggested combining BMI with other measurements, like waist circumference, to better assess health at an individual level. NICE's final quality standards are expected to be published in August 2025. If adopted, these standards could significantly improve health management for patients with long-term conditions.