With growing pressure to manage obesity and prescribe weight-loss medication, this meeting was an opportunity to enhance your skills and build your confidence
This educational conference provided an introductory guide to managing obesity. By focusing on the practicalities of conducting first consultations, offering lifestyle advice, prescribing and supporting patients on GLP-1s and making surgical referrals, the attendees left with a significantly improved understanding of obesity management pathways.
Sponsored by: 
Novo Nordisk had provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Novo Nordisk had had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
Key learning outcomes
This dedicated training equipped the participants with the basic tools needed to support patients living with obesity. Each presentation was tailored to impart practical, implementable guidance and top tips. All attendees were given a short, printed guide, created by the speakers, equipping them with a handy ongoing reference for each topic covered:
- Preparing for a consultation: engaging, understanding and motivating your patient
- Lifestyle and exercise interventions: what works and how it can help in practice
- Choosing weight-neutral drugs: key considerations, reviews and switching strategies
- Prescribing GLP-1s: patient selection, eligibility and lifestyle education
- Long-term GLP-1 use: ensuring tolerance and navigating adverse effects
- Bariatric surgery referral: understanding the pathway, criteria and support requirements
- Long-term post-surgical support: physical and psychological implications and re-referral criteria
- Integrated obesity pathways: long-term role of primary care, MDT strategies and streamlining services
Interactive and engaging
This popular forum armed those in attendance with the increased knowledge and practical skills to confidently support and manage patients on the obesity pathway.
- Building networks: access to obesity and primary care professionals, as well as thought leaders to build a community of peers for support, advice and guidance
- Professional learning: clinical updates, evidenced learnings and real-world examples
- Facilitated discussion: your burning questions answered, case-based questions and solutions to your challenges discussed
With thanks to our sponsor
SBK Healthcare would like to thank Novo Nordisk for sponsoring this meeting.
Novo Nordisk had provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Novo Nordisk had had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
With thanks to our exhibitor
SBK Healthcare would also like to thank Echosens for exhibiting this meeting.
Invitation to sponsor
SBK Healthcare National Conferences are designed to enable obesity management providers to support healthcare professionals. If you would like to sponsor a forum, please email Vanessa Pearce or call Vanessa on 01732 897788 to find out about all the engagement and branding opportunities available.
| 9:00 |
Registration and networking
|
| 9:30 |
Chair’s opening remarks and introductions
Professor Rob Andrews, Associate Professor, University of Exeter and Honorary Consultant Physician, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
|
| Identifying and engaging patients | |
| 9:40 |
Beyond the BMI: Preparing to identify and build a picture of obesity history
Professor Rob Andrews, Associate Professor, University of Exeter and Honorary Consultant Physician, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
|
| 10:00 |
Lived experience: The reality of living with obesity
Mary Perkins, Speaker with lived experience
|
| 10:20 |
Questions and answers with your speakers
|
| Medical management of obesity | |
| 10:30 |
How to minimise weight-gain by choosing weight neutral drugs
Dr Mimi Chen, Specialist Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
|
| 11:00 |
Questions and answers with your speaker
|
| 11:10 |
Networking break
|
| Clinical interventions | |
| 11:30 |
Supporting behaviour change in a busy clinic: brief interventions with a big impact
Dr Katie Hesketh, Assistant Professor in Exercise Prescription, University of Birmingham & Dr Adrian Brown PhD RD, NIHR Advanced Fellow, Associate Professor (Principal Research Fellow) in Nutrition & Dietetic, Chair of Obesity Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association and Honorary Senior Specialist Dietitian, University College London
|
| 12:10 |
Questions and answers with your speakers
|
| Surgical pathways and aftercare | |
| 12:20 |
Referring patients for bariatric surgery: what GPs and nurses need to know
Mr Dimitri Pournaras, Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon, North Bristol Centre for Weight Loss, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust
|
| 12:45 |
Questions and answers with your speaker
|
| 12:50 |
Psychological and biopsychosocial considerations in bariatric surgery
Dr Emily McBride, Clinical Lecturer in Health Psychology and Consultant Health Psychologist, King's College London, and Lead Bariatric Psychologist, NHS Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
|
| 1:15 |
Questions and answers with your speaker
|
| 1:20 |
Networking lunch
|
| 2:20 |
Interactive discussion: Getting patients ready for bariatric surgery and supporting them long term
|
| GLP-1s | |
| 2:40 |
Effective selection and use of GLP-1s: Obesity management for people with and without diabetes
Professor Thomas Barber, Professor of Endocrinology and Consultant Endocrinologist, University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
|
| 3:05 |
Managing GLP-1 side effects and practical steps for navigating their long-term use
Irena Cruickshank, Weight Management Nurse Specialist, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
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| 3:30 |
Questions and answers with your speaker
|
| 3:40 |
Networking break
|
| 4:00 |
Interactive discussion: Selecting patients for GLP-1s and supporting the use
|
| The national picture | |
| 4:20 |
From assessment to aftercare: building an integrated obesity pathway
Professor Alex Miras, Professor of Endocrinology, Ulster University
|
| 4:45 |
Questions and answers with your speakers
|
| 4:55 |
Chair’s closing remarks and close of day
|
Novo Nordisk has provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Novo Nordisk has had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
With thanks to the speakers:
Mary Perkins
Speaker with lived experience
Dr Mimi Chen
Specialist Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Katie Hesketh
Assistant Professor in Exercise Prescription
University of Birmingham
Dr Adrian Brown PhD RD
NIHR Advanced Fellow, Associate Professor (Principal Research Fellow) in Nutrition & Dietetic, Chair of Obesity Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association and Honorary Senior Specialist Dietitian
University College London
Professor Thomas Barber
Professor of Endocrinology and Consultant Endocrinologist
University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Irena Cruickshank
Weight Management Nurse Specialist and Independent Prescriber
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Mr Dimitri Pournaras
Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon
North Bristol Centre for Weight Loss, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust
Dr Emily McBride
Clinical Lecturer in Health Psychology and Consultant Health Psychologist
King's College London and NHS Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Professor Alex Miras
Professor of Endocrinology
Ulster University
Meet the Advisory Board
This agenda was developed with the expertise of renowned leaders in the field, Prof Rob Andrews and Irena Cruikshank. This Obesity Management Advisory Board created a groundbreaking event that offers cutting-edge insights and the latest clinical approaches to obesity management.
A one day conference dedicated to learning and networking
This introductory level conference followed our hugely successful Obesity National Networking Forums which ran in November 2024 and June 2025. The meeting was designed especially for those who are new to obesity management, we saw attendance from:
- 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 the attendees described Obesity Management National Networking Forum in November 2024 and June 2025:
With thanks to our sponsor
Novo Nordisk provided sponsorship to SBK to cover the cost of stand space for this meeting. Novo Nordisk had no influence over the meeting agenda or arrangements.
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 63,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information visit: www.novonordisk.co.uk
With thanks to our 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 Pearce
Contact: 01732 897788
Email: Vanessa.Pearce@sbk-healthcare.co.uk
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