One of the biggest challenges we face as GPs is how to best facilitate behaviour change in our patients. This is particularly evident with weight loss.

As a young GP, I took an over enthusiastic, slightly dictatorial approach. My success rate was inconsistent at best, and I suspect that those who changed were likely to have changed regardless of anything I said.

My approach altered when my nurse came back from a health coaching course.

She pointed out that we had been doing it all wrong. Evidence suggested that behaviour change was most likely to occur when a patient decided on the changes for themselves.