Overweight and obese children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. They are also more likely to have a higher risk of illness, disability, and dying earlier.  Dealing with weight issues in childhood is essential for reducing the burden of chronic diseases in adulthood.  Primary care plays an important role in the diagnosis, education, and management of these children.  In a previously funded NIHR doctoral fellowship, YO co-developed the Weight-specific Adolescent Instrument for Economic-evaluation (WAItE) with 11-18 year olds (Appendix 1).  This study seeks to further this work. 

 

 

Explore the acceptability and feasibility of using the WAItE as a screening tool and whether it is best suited for routine or targeted screening in primary care 

 

 

This work fits under Healthy lifestyles in older age primary care research theme – building on the management and consequences of obesity work programme in Newcastle.  The WAItE, used in combination with Body Mass Index, could lead to the acceleration of weight management services to individuals with the poorest quality of life (QoL); potentially leading to these individuals living longer richer lives in adulthood; aligning to the overall programme objective of enabling people to Live Better for Longer.  Moreover re-focusing sensitive conversations on QoL, rather than weight, might be more palatable to parents and children, thereby improving outcomes. 

 

 

One-to-one interviews with 20 primary care staff located in general practices will be undertaken to explore the acceptability and feasibility of implementing the WAItE as a screening tool in the diagnosis and management of children who are above healthy weight.  Views of clinicians acceptability, is the WAItE useful in clinic, and feasibility, how could the WAItE be used in clinical practice will be investigated.  Key issues that arise from interview discussions will be identified.