New Virtual Care Programme Aims to Transform Severe Obesity Management in Western Sydney
Key Takeaways:
- Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) is building “Living Well Virtual Care”, a 12–18 month virtual programme offering evidence-based, multidisciplinary care to adults living with severe obesity in Western Sydney.
- The programme is modelled on the internationally recognised Family Metabolic Health Service (FMHS) adult model of care and is designed for people who face barriers attending hospital-based services, including long travel distances, physical disabilities or severe anxiety.
- Funded through NSW Health’s Translational Research Grants Scheme and supported by the Agency for Clinical Innovation, Living Well has been designed to be scalable across NSW, including in regional and rural communities.
A new digital pathway for severe obesity care
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) is building the “Living Well Virtual Care” programme, a new digitally enabled clinical pathway designed to improve access to evidence-based severe obesity management in Western Sydney.
Living Well will run as a 12–18 month virtual programme. It draws its inspiration from the successful and internationally recognised Nepean Blue Mountains Family Metabolic Health Service (FMHS) adult model of care.
The programme supports adults living with severe obesity through a holistic, evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach. This approach addresses not only a person’s physical and mental health, but also the social factors that influence their long-term wellbeing.
Extending the reach of an established service
A central aim of Living Well is to reach people who may currently be missing out on specialist care.
“Living Well will allow us to extend the reach of the Family Metabolic Health Service to people who are waiting long periods of time to see us, or who may otherwise never engage with us,” explains Dr Kathryn Williams, Clinical Lead of the Family Metabolic Health Service and Principal Investigator of the Living Well program.
The programme is particularly suited to people who face barriers attending hospital-based services. These include people who live long distances from clinics, people with physical disabilities and people who experience severe anxiety.
Responding to growing demand across NSW
Demand for public obesity services continues to grow across NSW. Without timely intervention, a person’s health and quality of life can deteriorate, increasing the risk of chronic disease, disability and future hospitalisations.
Living Well has been developed as an affordable, scalable response to this challenge. By offering earlier, virtual access to coordinated care, the programme aims to support better health optimisation and ease pressure on emergency departments and inpatient services. These are outcomes that the in-person Family Metabolic Health Service model of care is already delivering.
“Severe obesity is a complex, chronic condition and it requires sustained, coordinated care,” continues Kathryn.
“Living Well will put the right support in place earlier, improving health outcomes for patients while also delivering better value for the health system.”
For healthcare professionals, this emphasis on obesity as a complex, chronic condition requiring sustained and coordinated care reflects the kind of evidence-based foundation covered in The College of Contemporary Health’s Obesity Essentials course, which supports clinicians to strengthen their understanding of obesity management in practice.
What the programme offers
The Living Well Virtual Care programme brings together a range of digital and supportive elements, including:
- On-demand educational content
- Live webinars and group interventions
- Practical resources to support participants to engage their GP in medical weight management and the management of obesity-related complications
- Links to trusted external online resources relevant to severe obesity
- Opportunities for peer connection and support
Alongside engaging with the online content, participants receive one-to-one health coaching.
Designed to scale across the state
Living Well has been designed to be scalable across NSW, including in regional and rural communities, and is supported by the Agency for Clinical Innovation.
“This program will demonstrate how digital care can be used as an extension of high-quality clinical services,” says Kathryn.
“For many patients it will mean timely access to care, greater confidence in managing their health, and a more positive experience as they journey through the health system.”
Funding and research significance
The Living Well Virtual Care Program is funded through NSW Health’s Translational Research Grants Scheme. It is one of three NBMLHD high-impact research projects with the potential to be translated into policy and practice and to build research capability within NSW Health.
CCH insight
As services like Living Well show, effective care for people living with severe obesity depends on clinicians who understand obesity as a complex, chronic condition and can support people through sustained, coordinated care. The College of Contemporary Health’s Obesity Essentials course is designed to help healthcare professionals build confidence in evidence-based obesity management.
Source: Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
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