Alan X has been diagnosed with 2 weight related chronic conditions, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are well controlled with medication. In 2006 he had a heart attack, and in the same year he had CABG, coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In 2007 Alan was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). He has had 2 episodes of AF, the last one in 2012, but he hasn’t experienced AF since then.

Alan says that for the last 20 years he had been overweight, with a weight of about 14.5 stone. On average he tries to diet once a year, usually after Christmas. Over the years there have been periods of weight loss and periods of weight gain. At present, he is about 15.5 stone, and is thinking of joining Slimming World.

In the past, Alan’s approach has been to reduce weight by eating smaller portions, cutting out alcohol and carbohydrates from his diet, and eating mostly vegetables, some meat and fish. He loses weight, but says that such eating routine do not last because he becomes bored’ with what he eats and wants to eat proper meals. Thus, boredom and inability to sustain a diet lacking in variation have characterised Alan’s experiences. Another issue that makes it difficult for him to commit long term to dieting is the pace at which he does lose weight. He explains that when dieting he loses weight very quickly in the first couple of weeks, and then it plateaus and he maintains weight but does not lose any more.

Alan has received advice by dieticians but he describes it as theoretical advice’ that doesn’t apply to the real world. Moreover, he points out that it is usually given by young female professionals that don’t seem to have to worry about weight, making rapport difficult. Alan’s goal now is to lose a stone and keep it off, and he is considering joining a weight management program to achieve this. He is looking for information and advice about sensible ideas on eating’.

Due to heart conditions, Alan is limited about what he can do to keep active and help himself to lose weight besides walking and swimming. His doctor’s advice has been to keep his pulse rate down below 150. He is not keen on exercise, but he is willing to do if it would help with weight loss.

Alan says that health care professionals always mention the need for him to lose weight and that according to BMI measurement; his weight should be around 12 stone. However, he thinks that BMI measurement tends to be misleading because it is only useful to people with a non-sturdy build and he describes himself as a fairly sturdy build’ man. For him, a more realistic possibility would be to go down to 13 stone, but he is doubtful if he could achieve that.

Another issue is health professional’s advice on the effects of weight loss on his chronic health conditions. Alan feels that he receives general statements like if you lose weight you will feel better’. What he would really appreciate is to be given more evidence-based information on the ways in which weight loss will improve the management of his diabetes and high blood pressure. At the same time, he feels that over the years he has absorbed all the medical advice he has been given, but that it is up to him to make the commitment to follow a lifestyle that will enable him to reach and maintain a healthy weight.