Amanda Avery

Amanda was Chair of the Obesity Specialist group of the BDA from 2017 – 2022 and in this role worked closed with the BDA and DHSC/OHID to work on a document ‘what does good look like in obesity management’. Still very actively involved in the group, she contributes to responses to national consultations and is currently developing a national training programme for dietitians new to the field of obesity management. She sits on the NICE committee updating the Maternal & Child Nutrition guidelines having extensive research experience in the area of weight management during pregnancy.

Amanda worked in the NHS, mainly in primary care and public health roles, for over 20 years before moving to academia in 2009. Whilst on a Public Health secondment in the late 1990s, Amanda was tasked with investigating the feasibility of referral of patients from primary care to local commercial weight management support groups to help reduce health inequalities as part of the local obesity management strategy (which she led on). Because of her long-standing affiliation with Slimming World and wider roles, she has good knowledge of the latest evidence base in weight management.