That’s after the region’s health board launched a new scheme referring obese patients to diet and health company, Weight Watchers.

That will see Scotland’s largest health board pay membership costs for those who fit the criteria as part of a two-year pilot scheme.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) told the Reporter: “The pilot is aimed at those at higher risk of developing complications as a result of their obesity and is in addition to our existing hospital based weight management service.

“This new development is being piloted to enhance the existing arrangements to support patients with weight management.” The scheme will see patients with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 sent to the weight-loss experts as part of the health board’s ‘community based weight management services’ - they will be referred for three months with performance reviews held to monitor their progress.

GGC stressed the running of the pilot would not divert funds from existing hospital based weight management service, calling it a separate community service for those who require less intensive support.

Weight Watchers were chosen after a full tendering process – and one local leader for the organisation believes they were the right company for the job.

Fiona Pediani, leader and PR rep for Weight Watchers West Dunbartonshire, told us: “We got that contract over other similar companies based on our healthy eating plan — everything was looked at, but the eating plan was a key factor.” Fiona and her team helped to initiate a similar pilot with youngsters in parts of Glasgow and believes the scheme to have been a real success.

She added: “We had been doing a pilot scheme with youngsters between 16-18 in the Maryhill and Inverclyde area and that has worked well. That was a referral programme called Weigh To Go and if you were in that age group and from the area, you could get a doctor’s referral to Weight Watchers for six months and a free gym membership.

“After a review, that could be extended if it was shown you were making the most of the opportunity and benefiting from it.” But some working in weight-loss management within the NHS have criticised the move as an example of privatisation.

A study on commercial weight-loss programmes found one third of almost 30,000 participants to have lost five per cent or more of their bodyweight – weight loss of five per cent or above is associated with health benefits.

However, GGC has an existing weight-loss programme which has published successful results, with figures showing a third of those attending the NHS programme lost at least two stone, keeping it off for a year. So why the need for a commercial-led programme?

The GGC spokeswoman added: “People identify with Weight Watchers and evidence shows their model is one which works.

“We will carry out a full evaluation of this work at the end of the pilot in two years.”