Meet the Adult COMs: Somerset Weight Management Service led by Dr Rhodri King

Meet the Adult COMs: Somerset Weight Management Service led by Dr Rhodri King

We are delighted to introduce Dr. Rhodri King, lead of the Adult COM Somerset Weight Management Service at Musgrove Park Hospital, England. This multidisciplinary team includes four endocrine consultants, four specialist weight management dietitians, one clinical psychologist, one psychology therapist, and one weight management nurse specialist. The team delivers comprehensive obesity care, offering a range of treatments and services to patients living with obesity.

It is great to speak with you, Dr. King. Could you please describe the services your COM offers to patients, and your COM’s patient care philosophy?

Our COM offers a holistic and individualised approach to obesity management, incorporating diet and lifestyle interventions, psychological therapies, GLP-1 medications, and bariatric surgery. We provide evidence-based care to support patients on their journey toward improved health and quality of life. Our team’s philosophy uses a patient-centred model of care that tailors interventions to the needs of each individual. We aim to support patients in achieving sustainable weight loss, improved health and reduced obesity-related complications.

What recent updates from work in your COM can you share? Are you involved in any ongoing research projects?

In the past year, our COM presented real-world data on our experience with Saxenda at the UK’s National Obesity Congress (UKCO 2024) and participated in clinical trials for new obesity management medications, including the REDEFINE-2 trial and the TRIUMPH OUTCOMES trial. The REDEFINE-2 study evaluates the effect and safety of CagriSema, a once-weekly administered subcutaneous medicine for people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, compared to placebo. CagriSema, developed by Novo Nordisk A/S, combines cagrilintide and semaglutide, offering dual mechanisms of action, making it a promising option for obesity treatment. The TRIUMPH OUTCOMES trial aims to determine if retatrutide can reduce serious heart-related complications or slow kidney function decline in adults with higher BMI and cardiovascular or kidney disease.

Our team is also contributing to the BY-BAND-SLEEVE and LIGHT-BAR studies, examining long-term outcomes of both surgical and non-surgical obesity management interventions.

While the main BY-BAND-SLEEVE study has concluded, we’re now engaged in the long-term follow-up phase, which is an exciting extension of the work. LIGHT-BAR evaluates the benefits and risks of a non-surgical intensive obesity management approach, including dietary replacements, behavioural support, and obesity medications, compared to bariatric surgery for people with severe and complex obesity.

Additionally, our team has implemented innovative practices to improve care delivery, such as a patient information video that reduces waiting times by preparing patients for their first appointment. A unique service we offer is domiciliary visits provided by our clinical psychologist for patients with mobility or mental health challenges. Our weight management nurse specialist is also the first in the UK to achieve non-medical prescriber status in this field, further enhancing our care options.

What education and training activities does your COM provide?

Our COM actively participates in educating healthcare professionals. We organise the annual South West England ASO regional network meetings, GP education sessions, and junior doctor training. These activities aim to improve the understanding and implementation of comprehensive obesity management across the healthcare system. 

Thank you. What are your goals for your COM over the next 3-5 years?

Our goals include developing patient webinars to expand our management capacity of our current team, integrating more closely with the bariatric surgery service to streamline the patient journey, collaborating with primary care and local health boards to support the community provision of injectable medications, and continuing to engage in clinical research while presenting our local findings at obesity conferences.

This edition highlights the Adult COM at the Somerset Weight Management Service, led by Dr. Rhodri King. The team’s multidisciplinary approach focuses on individualised, patient-centred care, incorporating diet and lifestyle interventions, psychological therapies, GLP-1 medications, and bariatric surgery. Dr. King shared recent achievements, including presenting data on Saxenda at UKCO 2024, involvement in clinical trials like REDEFINE-2 and TRIUMPH OUTCOMES, and participation in long-term studies such as BY-BAND-SLEEVE and LIGHT-BAR. Thank you, Dr. King!