Obesity Institute opens its doors

A UNIQUE centre set up to manage obesity in Rotherham opened its doors to the public today.

Rotherham Institute for Obesity (RIO), based at Clifton Medical Centre, will provide specialist support for overweight and obese people who have been referred by health professionals.

Its facilities include a gym and resource centre, as well as a kitchen where cooking lessons will take place.

Today’s opening is part of National Obesity Week and Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, will officially open the centre.

Dr Matthew Capehorn, clinical manager at RIO, said that Rotherham was leading the way in tackling the issue.

“This exciting new facility is totally unique in the UK,” he said. “We are offering a full team of experts on hand to address the causes of obesity and offer weight management for both adults and children. 

“Obesity is a growing problem among all ages of the population with nearly one third of children and over half of the adult population overweight or obese. 

“In Rotherham, we are leading the way in tackling the issue, however, we recognise that there is no quick fix and that it may take some years before the trends can be reversed.

“But with good advice, intervention and treatment we hope to raise awareness and understanding of the health dangers associated with obesity and engage the public with our Weight Management Strategy.”

One in three children and 60 per cent of the adult population in Rotherham are classed as overweight or obese.

RIO will be part of NHS Rotherham's £3.5 million four-tier intervention programme which  includes summer weight management camps for children, a 12 week weight management programme for children and Reshape Rotherham, a 12-week community weight management programme for adults.

A spokeswoman for NHS Rotherham added: “RIO takes a multidisciplinary team approach to weight loss by providing a range of specialists including dieticians and exercise therapist, and a general practitioner with a specialist interest in obesity.

“Its overall aim is to identify problems and put together an appropriate plan for each individual, and to maximise their chances of weight loss.”

Patients who are worried about their weight should visit their GP to be referred into RIO or any of the other services. 

Services are free and are available to people registered with a Rotherham GP.