A SPECIALIST clinic in Bournemouth is offering free treatment programmes to people living with obesity.

The National Slimming Clinic, a member of the Obesity Management Association (OMA), is inviting local GPs to refer obese patients for the treatment, in a bid to reduce the pressure obesity is placing upon the NHS in the area.

Almost one in four adults in the Bournemouth area is classified as obese.

The pilot scheme in the town is designed to introduce local GPs to the medical and behavioural solutions offered by OMA member clinics across the UK.

Patients will be given a 12-week programme of treatment, and the clinic would receive feedback from both the GP and the patient.

OMA hopes GPs nationwide will use their member clinics for obesity treatment.

Robert Houtman, trustee of OMA said: “As obesity levels continue to rise in Bournemouth and beyond, there is a pressing need to help GPs with the strain being put upon them by this spiralling epidemic. “GPs have neither the time nor the resource to dedicate to the holistic support these patients need, and so we are offering to help them free of charge.

“The complex nature of obesity means that emotional and behavioural support is required.

“The NSC clinic in Bournemouth is ideally positioned to provide this.”