The Food, Fluid and Nutrition Steering Group have introduced a number of guidance documents to support staff providing care to patients and their families.

One of which is the Weigh Back Home document. This supports people at home to make appropriate choices to support weight gain in people who have lost significant amounts of weight due to a clinical condition.

Frances Dodd, food, fluid and nutrition steering group chair, said: “Patients may have experienced weight loss and loss of appetite due to their illness, treatment or anxiety while in hospital.

“Their appetite might improve after they return home as familiar foods and home-cooked foods can be more enjoyable.”

Weigh Back Home includes tips to help people regain their appetite and return to normal weight including:

• Try to eat three meals a day with snacks in between
• A short walk before a meal can stimulate appetite
• Try and present the food in an attractive way
• Try to have a pudding once or twice a day.

Frances added: “It is important that patients who have been discharged monitor their weight and appetite at home. If their weight continues to decrease, or they have a poor appetite, then they should contact their GP.”