"Hello, I’m [Your Name]. I understand you've come in today to talk about your weight. Taking this step to seek advice is a really positive and important one, so thank you for coming."
"To start, could you tell me a bit about your journey with your weight, and what your main concerns are right now?"
"Thank you for sharing that. It’s incredibly common for weight to gradually increase, especially with the pressures of a busy job and family life. Please know you're not alone in this."
"You mentioned being worried about your health. It is true that having a BMI over 30, which we define as obesity, increases the long-term risk of developing conditions like Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The most important message I want you to hear today is that by taking steps now, you can dramatically reduce those future risks. It is not a permanent sentence."
"When we approach weight management, we think of it like building a house. The most important part is the foundation, which for everyone is lifestyle—that means focusing on diet and activity."
"We recommend aiming for a gradual and sustainable weight loss of about one to two pounds per week. This is best achieved by making small, consistent changes to your diet, like reducing your daily intake by about 600 calories, and by building up to 150 minutes of activity a week that gets your heart rate up."
"If, after making these changes, weight loss is still a struggle, the next step we can consider is adding medication to support your efforts."
"You mentioned you'd heard about surgery. It’s important to be clear that surgery is an option at the very top of the pyramid. It is only considered for people who meet very specific criteria—usually a very high BMI or those with serious health complications—and only after all other methods, including medication, have been tried without success. It's a major operation and certainly not an easy route."
"So, the best, safest, and most effective place for us to start is right at the foundation: creating a realistic and sustainable plan for your diet and activity."
"There are fantastic NHS and local services that can support you. I can refer you to a weight management group or a dietitian if you like. How does that sound as a starting point?"
"Just to make sure I've explained everything clearly, what are your thoughts now on the role of surgery in your weight loss journey?"
"Excellent. Let's set an initial goal and book a follow-up appointment in a few weeks to see how you're getting on."