New diet for offshore workers in bid to cut oil and gas obesity problem

A private medical clinic in Aberdeen has launched a diet service tailored for the offshore industry in an effort to tackle rising levels of obesity.

Temple Medical has adapted its meal replacement and supplement-based weight loss programme to suit individuals working offshore.

Typical users of the clinic’s “Alizonne Therapy” system, which also includes a programme of skin tightening, must visit the clinic once a week.

Dr Sam Robson, a trained GP, has developed the regime with a number of clients who have been working offshore up to five weeks at a time.

“We have put together a very tailored package for those who can’t come in for two weeks or five weeks – their treatment is more intense when they get back.

“We keep in touch with them by email in the meantime.

“We have trialled it and have worked out the potential problems. We are now confident it works offshore.”

A number of energy companies are already targeting workers with a waist size over 37 inches and offering them weight loss programmes via occupational health providers.

The size of workers throughout the UK is increasing and over the last 10 years the average weight of oil workers has risen by three stone.

Dr Robson added: “Being overweight in an offshore environment is not just a health issue it is also a safety issue.

“If you look at the logistics of being on a helicopter, you need to ensure you aren’t blocking someone’s exit or you are able to get out the window or door.

“The biggest problem is if these people are obese, they need help. If they didn’t need help they wouldn’t be overweight.

“A lot of solutions offered are either impractical or of little use.

“Telling people to diet and exercise is great but how many people actually do that?”

Dr Robson claimed clients typically lose a stone a month on the medically-supervised regime.

Currently working with individuals, Temple Medical will roll the programme out to North Sea firms in January on an occupational health basis.

Part of the problem of rising obesity offshore was the relaxation of rules which prevented or restricted overweight workers from flying out.

Prior to 2008 a worker with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 was deemed not normally fit for offshore work.

BMI is a measurement of weight in relation to height.

But the industry challenged weight limits as being “difficult to justify on medical grounds”.

Trade body Oil and Gas UK changed its guidance on obesity in 2008 whereby a worker with a BMI above 40 is now “a matter for employers to decide based on safety risk assessment”.