Only 3 per cent of overweight and obese people are being referred to weight loss programmes, a study has found.
Men are 31 per cent less likely than women to be sent to slimming classes or schemes tackling their diet and fitness.
Middle-class patients are less likely to be referred than those from deprived backgrounds.
People in rural areas are less likely to be sent for help.
Researchers looked at about 1.8 million people recorded as overweight or obese in England between 2007 and 2020.
Only 3.1 per cent were referred by their healthcare professional to a weight-loss scheme (Stock Image)
They found only 3.1 per cent were referred by their GP or another healthcare professional to a weight-loss scheme.
Dr Karen Coulman, who led the study, said some health professionals did not raise patients’ weight for fear of ‘stigmatising’ them. She added: ‘We need better training so doctors and other healthcare professionals feel more confident in having these conversations.’
The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, looked at community-based programmes such as slimming classes and dietitian referrals.
It said men may be less likely than women to be referred because they are reluctant to discuss their weight.
And those in rural areas could be missing out due to a lack of weight management groups.
The study found the least deprived are 16 per cent less likely to be referred than the most deprived, possibly because their doctors see them less.
It said doctors should not rely too heavily on online diet and exercise programmes, which may not work for older people who prefer face-to-face help.
