New Specialist Weight Management Service for Counties Manukau

Te Whatu Ora Counties

Manukau is setting up a new specialist weight management service to support people living with severe and complex obesity in Counties Manukau to achieve improved health outcomes.

The new specialist service, Te Mana Ki Tua, which is scheduled to start in mid-2023, aims to create an inclusive and safe space with group-based care including a meal replacement low energy diet phase, with wrap-around care from a multi-specialist team to promote long term healthy lifestyle changes.

Eva Takinui, Project Manager for Te Mana Ki Tua, says the service will also provide medical care for conditions that can run alongside obesity such as diabetes.

“We aim to provide a culturally appropriate holistic approach. Our health coaches have lived experience as individuals who have either experienced obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and are support people for spouses and immediate and extended whaanau.

“Our programme is not limited to our participants alone and we encourage whaanau involvement.

“Our model of care is designed with our whaanau at the forefront and our consumers have the opportunity to shape the way that we deliver and provide care for our participants and whaanau.”

Professor Rinki Murphy, Clinical Head of the new service explains that this service will provide low-calorie meal replacements, medication adjuncts, and multidisciplinary team support for those suffering with severe weight related medical conditions.

“The unique aspects of this service model of care includes a health-coach led approach, provision of meal replacements and wrap around care and group-based peer support.“

Bariatric surgeon Dr Richard Babor says he is looking forward to collaborating with the specialist weight management service.

“We anticipate it will lead to broader, deeper, and more holistic care for patients suffering from obesity - both for those patients intending to have surgery and those who are not.”