The “Why Weight to Talk?” initiative, delivered by Health Equalities Group, has made significant strides in equipping professionals across Cheshire and Merseyside with the skills and confidence to engage children and families in conversations about healthier weight. Initially developed in collaboration with colleagues from across Cheshire West and Chester, this universal training programme is helping to address healthier weight by empowering frontline staff to provide effective brief advice.
The training programme, delivered in 90-minute online sessions and two-hour in-person workshops, has proven highly effective, with over 350 practitioners from six of the nine places in Cheshire and Merseyside trained in Phase 3 alone. A key element of the initiative is its place-specific focus, offering tailored guidance based on local services and referral pathways, ensuring that practitioners are well-equipped to support families and individuals in their communities. The programme’s success has led to its extension into a fourth phase, reaching the three remaining places, and funding has also been secured to deliver the training to healthcare staff and colleagues in the VCFSE sector.
Evaluation of the programme shows a marked improvement in participants’ knowledge of the complexities surrounding overweight and obesity and their confidence in engaging with children and families on these issues. Practitioners reported feeling more empathetic towards individuals living with overweight and obesity, recognising the impact of factors such as poverty and food insecurity. The qualitative feedback suggests that the training effectively translates knowledge into practical action, with frontline staff more confident in delivering brief advice and referring individuals to appropriate services.
This ongoing programme continues to evolve, with Phase 4 set to reach even more professionals across the region. A full evaluation reports will soon be available, offering deeper insights into the programme’s impact across Cheshire and Merseyside.
To find our more about the programme and how this can be delivered to cohorts of staff from NHS, local authority and VCFSE sectors in your area, please contact: michael.viggars@heg.org.uk
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