- Please note: There is currently a waiting list of 6 months for Community Intensive Weight Management service.
Community Intensive
Weight Management
Our Community Intensive Weight Management Service supports you to achieve a healthier weight and improve your overall well-being.
This includes everything in Place-Based Weight Management, plus:
- Support from medical specialists (like doctors and dietitians)
- Possible access to weight loss medication (if it’s safe and right for you)
- Help with long-term health conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure)
This service is for people who need extra medical care to support their weight and health.
Please be aware that this service is also available in Peterborough.
What's Included?
Our psychologically informed year-long programme includes weekly sessions (90 minutes) which not only covers topics such as mindful eating and self-care but also provides practical support on increasing physical activity, a balanced diet and food labelling.
Mindful Eating
Selfcare & Stress Management
Emotional & Social Eating
Understanding Food Labels
Introducing Physical Activity
We aim to empower you to lead a happy and healthy life, embedding positive lifestyle habits that fit in with your day-to-day life.
We’ll help you better understand your relationship with food and provide you with the knowledge and support you need.
You’ll have a dedicated weight management practitioners to support you on your journey.
Our science-powered 12-week weight loss programme helps you lose weight and our monthly maintenance sessions help you keep the weight off for good.
Clinical Pathway Options
In addition, our clinicians have enabled us to create and implement a variety of patient pathway options including:
Pharmaceutical Treatments
Psychological Support
(Including 1-2-1 therapy and guided self-help)
Preparing for Bariatric Surgery
How do I Join the Service?
You need to be referred by a health care professional, for example a GP, nurse or hospital consultant.
To be eligible for the Community Intensive Weight Management service, you must:
- Have a BMI of 40kg/m2 or above
- OR have a BMI of 35kg/m2 or above with weight related conditions, such as:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Functional disability (difficulty performing daily tasks and activities necessary for independent living)
- Infertility
- Depression
(Note – BMI criteria is reduced by 2.5 kg/m2 for individuals from a South Asian, Chinese, Other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background)
Please note, the above criteria only relate to the Community Intensive Weight Management service. Separate criteria is in place relating to weight loss drugs. For further information, please see the section below titled ‘Update on Specialist Weight Loss Injections (Tirzepatide/Mounjaro®) in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’.
What happens next?
Once referred, you will be contacted as soon as possible for a triage phone call. Following this, you will be booked in for a screening appointment. Please note that the current waiting list for screening appointments is 6 months.
If you would like some support whilst waiting for the Community Intensive Weight Management service, there are a number of alternative options which you may be eligible for:
Free Slimming World Referrals
Access the supportive group environment of a leading weight-loss organisation, fully funded for 12 weeks. To view the full list of Adult Weight Management clinics and find the one nearest to you, please click here.
*You can self-refer to this option.
Behavioural Change Specialists
Get personalised one-to-one support and coaching to help you make lasting changes. Health Trainer.
*You can self-refer to this option; however, please note that this service is only for individuals with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or below.
NHS Digital Weight Management Programme
A 12-week online programme for people living with obesity and diabetes or hypertension. The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme.
*Note, you will need to contact your GP surgery to be referred to this programme.
NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme: Healthier You
A programme available via face-to-face group sessions or a fully digital app to support you to make healthy, sustainable changes that over time, reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
*Note, you will need to contact your GP surgery to be referred to this programme.
Update on Specialist Weight Loss Injections in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved two medications, Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) and Semaglutide (Wegovy®), for the management of overweight and obesity.
The NHS is now rolling out these medications for people who meet the eligibility criteria, starting with people who are at highest risk of ill health, or who are experiencing the most severe ill health due to living with obesity.
These individuals are being prioritised because the NHS does not have the services or existing resources to manage the number of people who could potentially be eligible for weight management medications. This means not everyone who wishes to use these medications, and meets the criteria, will be able to access them immediately.
In the first phase of the roll-out of weight management medications (between now and April 2026), people with a BMI of 40 or above (or 37.5 for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds), and with four out of the following diagnosed health conditions will be prioritised:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Diseases
- Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
- Abnormal Blood Fats
If you do NOT meet all the criteria above, please do not contact your GP practice to ask for these injections. They are following strict NHS guidance and will not be able to prescribe them to you at this time.
Please be aware that these medications are only prescribed as part of a comprehensive support package. If you are eligible, you must also commit to a dedicated lifestyle support programme to help you make lasting changes.
If you would like to access support to help manage your weight, and feel you meet all the criteria listed above, please speak to your GP practice in first instance. If appropriate your GP will refer you to our weight management service. The weight management service will assess your needs and how they can best support you. Where people meet the eligibility criteria above, this may include the option of weight management medication.
The roll-out of weight management medications is being managed in phases. You may experience a long wait for medication due to the significant demand for these treatments.
NICE has indicated in its guidance that it could take up to 12 years to make Tirzepatide available to everyone who could be eligible.
Further information on the treatments available for the management of overweight and obesity, including Tirzepatide and Semaglutide, can be found on the NHS website: Obesity – Treatment – NHS
Please note:
- Tirzepatide and Semaglutide should not be taken by women, trans men and non-binary people who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you are prescribed this medication, please read the patient information leaflet provided within the box.
Tirzepatide and Semaglutide may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception. For further information, please read The Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare Patient Information Leaflet: Patient-information-GLP-1-agonists-and-contraception.pdf
FAQs
When do we send our weights?
For online sessions, you will be required to send your weight monthly ahead of your session.
Why do we join another group?
Joining a new group gives you the opportunity to learn from and share with others who have been through the first 12 weeks like yourselves.
Everyone receives the same content over the course of 9 months, and everyone does each session once.
Why is it now monthly?
By keeping up with what you’ve learnt in the first 12 weeks:
• Reviewing your goals every 1-2 weeks
• Keeping a food diary
• Monitoring your activity levels
How do I keep accountability over a long period of time?
By reviewing your goals every 1-2 weeks, and actively working on the goals you’ve set, keeping a food diary/exercise diary/thought diary and revisiting content between sessions will give you accountability, refresh your knowledge and help you with setting future goals.
How often will sessions be?
Once per calendar month.
What happens after the sessions?
Once you have completed the programme it is down to you to use the tools (handbook, recap email, resources, physical activity) you have learnt over the 12 months with Morelife, and to continue with the lifestyle changes you’ve made to reach your goals. If you are on the bariatric pathway and have achieved the 3 criteria, you will have a review call for bariatric surgery. If you are on this pathway, you will be informed by your practitioner.
Are the sessions similar to the weekly sessions?
We revisit some of the topics covered in the first 12 weeks to refresh your knowledge and reflect on your progress and the behaviour change that has occurred.
Are the sessions nutrition based?
We cover a variety of topics including nutrition-based information.
Are there any weekly catch-up calls?
No, we do not have structured weekly calls, we meet once per month and there will be information to recap in the summary emails and in the handbook. However, if you need additional support or advice (e.g., food diary), you can arrange this with your practitioner.
What medication is available?
In some cases, to aid weight loss, we can prescribe Orlistat. However, further information can be found by speaking to your practitioner.
We do have cut-off points for the prescribing of medication, which is handled on a case-by-case basis.
What is the criteria for bariatric surgery?
To be reviewed for bariatric surgery you need to meet all of the below criteria:
• Achieve a 5% weight loss
• Engage with the programme (attend 80% of sessions)
• Attend 2 bariatric information sessions
You can discuss this further with the practitioner too.
What if I can't attend a session?
If you cannot attend a session, please inform your practitioner in advance. The Attendance Policy states that: if you do not attend on two occasions and do not let us know or if you miss three sessions in total (even if you let us know), then you could potentially be removed from service, and it may affect your place on the programme. We appreciate that individual circumstances may vary so if you cannot make a session, please let your practitioner know in advance via phone/text/email.
What if monthly sessions aren't for me?
If you feel the 12 weeks gave you enough information and do not wish to continue with the monthly phase, you can let your practitioner know to discharge you. If you want bariatric surgery then attendance to the monthly phase is mandatory.