Healthy Weight

 

Table of Contents

Maintaining a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall health. This is because being overweight increases your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

Being a healthy weight has many health benefits and simple changes to what and how much you eat, combined with your level of physical activity can really help. Eating a balanced diet or aiming to lose weight can be challenging, but you don’t necessarily have to give up the things you love.

NHS 12 Week Weight Loss Plan

What is NHS 12 Week Weight Loss Plan?

The NHS have developed an app called ‘NHS Weight Loss Plan’. It is a free NHS weight loss plan to help you start healthier eating habits, be more active and start losing weight.

The plan is broken down into 12 weeks so you can:
• set weight loss goals
• use the BMI calculator to customise your plan
• plan your meals
• make healthier food choices
• get more active and burn more calories
• record your activity and progress

To find out more about the 12-week NHS weight loss plan visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/start-the-nhs-weight-loss-plan/

Eligibility

No eligibility criteria

Referral

No referral needed, you can download the ‘NHS Weight Loss Plan’ app from your apple or play store.

Healthy Weight Programme (Adults)

What is the Healthy Weight Programme (Adults)?

The Healthy Weight Programme (Adults) is a free 14-week programme delivered by the Active Lifestyle Centres in South Gloucestershire. This includes a 1:1 consultation followed by 5 group support sessions and access to leisure facilities throughout the 14-week period.

Eligibility

  • Aged 18 years or more
  • Has a BMI ≥30 with no co-morbidities (adjusted to BMI ≥28 with co-morbidities or BMI ≥27.5 in people of Black African, African-Caribbean, and Asian origin)
  • A South Gloucestershire resident or registered with a South Gloucestershire GP
  • Is clinically stable
  • Is not pregnant
  • Does not have a history of or an ongoing eating disorder

Referral

If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can be referred to the programme by the One You team. To find out more complete the One You online contact form and a member of the team will be in touch within 5 working days.

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP)

What is the NHS DWMP?

The NHS DWMP is a free 12-week online programme that can be accessed through a smartphone or computer. This includes three levels of support providing nutrition advice, wellbeing support and tips to boost activity levels, as well as a choice of service provider.

Eligibility 

  • Over the age of 18
  • Has a BMI ≥30 (≥27.5 for people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds)
  • Has a diagnosis of diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) or hypertension or both
  • Is not pregnant
  • Has not got an active eating disorder
  • Has not had bariatric surgery in the last two years

Referral 

If you meet the above eligibility criteria you can speak to your GP or a local pharmacist who can refer you to the programme.

To find out more about the NHS DWMP visit: NHS England: Digital Weight Management Programme

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

What is the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme?

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is for residents at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. A tailored programme to support patients to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. As well as guidance on making healthy food choices and increasing physical activity levels.

Eligibility 

Referral

 If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can speak to your GP and request a referral.

To find out more about the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme visit: Healthier You | Diabetes Prevention Programme (preventing-diabetes.co.uk)

The NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme

What is the NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme?

The NHS is delivering a new free programme which provides a low-calorie diet treatment. This includes 12 weeks access to diet replacement products such as shakes and soups, alongside 12 months of support and monitoring.

Eligibility 

  • Over the age of 18
  • Has a BMI ≥27 (≥25 for people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds)
  • Has a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes within the last 6 years

Referral

If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can speak to your GP and request a referral.

To find out more about the NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme visit: NHS England: Low Calorie Diet Programme

Weight Assessment and Management Service (WAMS)

What is WAMS?

WAMS is a free specialist service for those that have previously engaged with tier 2 service (unless BMI is ≥50) and have not achieved or maintained weight loss. The service is delivered over 6-12 months and usually based at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

Eligibility 

  • Over the age of 18
  • Registered with a South Gloucestershire GP
  • Has a BMI ≥40 or ≥35 if co-morbidities
  • Has previously attended weight loss interventions over a 2-year period but failed to achieve/maintain weight loss unless BMI is ≥50.

Referral

If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can speak to your GP and request a referral.

To find out more about WAMS visit: Weight Assessment and Management Service

Body Mass Index and Calorie Intake

In South Gloucestershire an estimated 63% of the adult population are overweight or obese.  You may have heard the term ‘BMI’ (or Body Mass Index) which is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. A brief explanation of BMI weight ranges is below:

  • under 18.5 – you’re in the underweight range
  • between 18.5 and 24.9 – you’re in the healthy weight range
  • between 25 and 29.9 – you’re in the overweight range
  • between 30 and 39.9 – you’re in the obese range

For most adults an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 – 24.9 range.

To help us achieve or maintain a healthy BMI we may need to change the amount of food we eat because as we get older our energy requirements reduce. This is due to changes in the way our body is made up which means we burn energy slower. We may also become less active or mobile

A few extra calories each day add up and can lead to gradual weight gain over time.

To check your BMI and to find out your recommended daily calorie intake, use the BMI healthy weight calculator on the NHS website. If you are concerned about your weight and need some guidance or help to achieve a healthy weight, speak to your GP.

Healthy Weight Calculator

Kickstart your health

Your health matters. There has never been a better time to kickstart your health. Better Health has a range of tools and support to help – find what works for you. Let’s do this!

Go to the Better Health website

Diabetes

Around three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and being active.

One You South Gloucestershire diabetes page

Useful resources and information