Developing the knowledge needed to improve services and effectively deliver coordinated, patient-centered obesity management.
Whether working in primary care, secondary care, commissioning or specialist weight management services, attendees joined this event to gain applicable, up-to-date guidance on obesity care within a rapidly evolving landscape. The event brought together leading experts and peers from across the UK to strengthen multidisciplinary working, improve patient conversations and explore the practical realities of lifestyle support and pharmacotherapy.
Participants left with clear, implementable strategies and valuable connections to support them in delivering confident and effective obesity care within their services.
Sponsored by Rhythm
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
Improving your practice
Elevate your knowledge with expert-led, structured NHS learning
This dedicated training day equipped attendees with the tools needed to support patients living with obesity. By bringing together the latest evidence and real-world examples, the forum helped participants embed best practice into their everyday service delivery.
Key learning included understanding obesity as a complex and relapsing condition, exploring lived experience, stigma and compassionate communication in obesity care, and preparing patients for bariatric surgery alongside planning for post-operative adjustments. Attendees also explored GLP-1 RA-based therapy service delivery models, including how these are structured within clinical practice and the practicalities of prescribing in line with the NHS 10-year health plan.
The day also provided insight into combining GLP-1 pharmacotherapy with lifestyle support for people with and without diabetes, alongside actionable strategies to preserve or increase muscle mass and maintain functional capacity.
Connect, share and learn
Unpack the latest in clinical care to successfully support patients on the obesity pathway
Attendees came together with their obesity care peers to benefit from dedicated time to connect, share experiences, exchange ideas and learn how others were approaching similar challenges.
This one-day event provided a wealth of best practice examples and opportunities for participants to build networks with obesity and primary care professionals, as well as thought leaders, creating a community of peers for ongoing support, advice and guidance. Attendees optimised their professional learning through clinical updates, evidence-based insights and real-world examples, while facilitated discussions enabled them to ask questions, explore case-based challenges and share practical solutions.
With thanks to the sponsor
SBK would like to thank Rhythm Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring this educational forum.
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
With thanks to the exhibitor
| 8:30 |
Registration and networking
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| 9:00 |
Chair’s opening remarks
Professor Thomas Barber, Consultant Endocrinologist and Professor of Endocrinology, University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
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| Obesity management today | |
| 9:10 |
Navigating obesity care in the UK: guidance, treatment and access
Dimitri Pournaras, Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon, North Bristol Centre for Weight Loss, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust
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| Psychological support in obesity care | |
| 9:35 |
Understanding lived experience, stigma and compassionate communication in obesity
Dr Emma Shuttlewood, Clinical Psychologist, University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
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| 10:00 |
Questions and answers with your speakers
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| 10:10 |
Interactive discussion: How to have patient-centred conversations: supporting and empowering patients
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| 10:30 |
A clinical perspective on treatment of those living with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS)
Az Mirza, Hospital Affairs Lead, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals
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| 10:45 |
Networking break
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| Service models, outcomes and specialist pathways | |
| 11:05 |
GLP-1 RA based therapy service delivery and roll out
Hannah Beba, Consultant Pharmacist in Diabetes, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board & Louisa Ells, Professor of Obesity & Co-Director of the Obesity Institute and NIHR Senior Investigator, Leeds Beckett University
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| 11:30 |
ENHANCE with GLP 1 RA based therapy: real-world outcomes and service evaluation
Dr Catherine Homer, Associate Professor of Obesity and Public Health, Sheffield Hallam University and Dr Emma Madeley, Postgraduate Student, Academic Unit of Health Economics, University of Leeds
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| 11:55 |
GLP-1 RA based therapy for children and young people: specialist service considerations
Suresha Muniyappa, Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrine, Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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| 12:20 |
Questions and answers with your speaker
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| 12:30 |
Lunch and networking break
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| Enhancing GLP-1 RA based therapy in practice | |
| 1:20 |
Exploring the role of dietitians in optimising GLP-1 RA based therapy
Frank Arsenyadis, Post-doctoral Obesity/Diabetes Researcher & Dietitian, Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester and University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust
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| 1:45 |
Effectively educating and supporting patients on GLP-1 RA based therapy
Irena Cruickshank, Weight Management Nurse Specialist, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
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| 2:10 |
Questions and answers with Frank Arsenyadis and Irena Cruickshank
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| 2:20 |
Networking break
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| Tier-3 obesity assessment: optimising patients for best surgical outcomes | |
| 2:40 |
Successfully preparing patients for bariatric surgery
Dr Sunil Nair, Consultant Physician in Diabetes & Endocrinology, Clinical Service Lead, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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| 3:05 |
Optimising pharmacotherapy post bariatric surgery
Professor Alex Miras, Professor of Endocrinology, Ulster University
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| Sarcopenic obesity and metabolic health | |
| 3:30 |
Balancing weight loss, muscle mass and functional outcomes
Professor Thomas Barber, Consultant Endocrinologist and Professor of Endocrinology, University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
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| 3:55 |
Questions and answers Dr Sunil Nair, Professor Alex Miras and Professor Thomas Barber
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| From plan to action | |
| 4:05 |
Panel discussion: Achieving the 10-year health plan
Your expert speakers will come together at the end of the day to translate the 10-year health plan into practical, system-wide action. This session will include a live Q&A and offer you the opportunity to explore how to implement what you have learned today into real-world practice, while addressing workforce, funding, and service integration challenges to deliver sustainable, patient-centered care. |
| 4:20 |
Closing remarks
|
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
With thanks to the speakers
This conference brought together nationally recognised leaders in obesity medicine, psychology, dietetics and service design to share practical insight and real-world experience. Participants learnt from clinicians and researchers who are actively shaping obesity pathways, implementing GLP-1 RA based services and advancing multidisciplinary care across the UK.
Professor Thomas Barber
Consultant Endocrinologist and Professor of Endocrinology
University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
Frank Arsenyadis
Post-doctoral Obesity/Diabetes Researcher & Dietitian
Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester and University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust
Irena Cruickshank
Weight Management Nurse Specialist
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Catherine Homer
Associate Professor of Obesity and Public Health
Sheffield Hallam University
Hannah Beba
Consultant Pharmacist in Diabetes
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
Louisa Ells
Professor of Obesity & Co-director, NIHR Senior Investigator
Obesity Institute, Leeds Beckett University
Dr Suresha Muniyappa
Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrine
Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Emma Shuttlewood
Clinical Psychologist
University of Warwick, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Dr Emma Madeley
Postgraduate Student, Academic Unit of Health Economics
University of Leeds
Dimitri Pournaras
Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
North Bristol Centre for Weight Loss, North Bristol NHS Trust
Dr Sunil Nair
Consultant Physician in Diabetes & Endocrinology, Clinical Service Lead
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Alex Miras
Professor of Endocrinology
Ulster University
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
Learn and connect
This annual conference was part of the hugely successful series of Obesity National Networking Forums which has previously been held in November 2024, June 2025 and December 2025. We saw attendance from, but not limited to:
- GPs, Practice Nurses and Advanced Nurse Practitioners
- Community Nurses and Dietitians
- Resident Doctors
- Diabetes Consultants, Registrars, Nurses and Dietitians
- Pharmacists
Past attendee feedback
Take a look at how attendees have described the previous Obesity Management National Networking Forums:
View further comments on Diabetes National Networking Forum events on Trust Pilot.
Confirmed sponsor
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to improving the lives of patients with rare neuroendocrine diseases by developing medicines that address the root cause. For more information, please contact Fleur Taylor at ftaylor@rhythmtx.com.
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals has had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
Confirmed exhibitor
Why sponsor a Diabetes National Networking Forum
Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing diabetes delivery forums offering dedicated presentation, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be full immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.
Your event, managed by us
SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.
Reach out today
If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact:
Vanessa Jarman
Telephone: 01732 897788
Email: vanessa.jarman@sbk-healthcare.co.uk
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