Community pharmacy contribution to weight management: identifying opportunities

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine the public's views on weight‐management services, including pharmacies as a potential venue, and the extent of current pharmacy involvement in weight management. Methods Two questionnaires were developed for face‐to‐face interview in one Primary Care Trust area: one for the general public and one for community pharmacists. Key findings Interviews were conducted with 177 members of the public, 75% of whom had tried to lose weight. More had used over‐the‐counter weight‐loss products than prescribed medicines. There was greater awareness of commercial weight‐management clinics than of NHS‐led initiatives. Leisure centres were the preferred locations for weight‐management clinics, with dieticians as the preferred staff. Pharmacies and pharmacists were not favoured as sources of advice on weight management. The questionnaire was completed by 49 community pharmacists (75%). All except one dispensed prescriptions for weight loss and 38 supplied over‐the‐counter weight‐loss products. For both, estimated supply frequency increased with increasing deprivation of the pharmacy's location. Eight pharmacies provided a commercial weight‐loss programme and more than half had weighing scales. Conclusions Opportunities exist for extending NHS‐led weight‐management services from community pharmacies, but further research is required into the public's expectations of services to support an increase in awareness and acceptance.