OBESE Brits are losing up to 9lbs in 12 weeks on an NHS weight loss programme, a study shows.
Thousands of people referred to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme shed half a stone, researchers found.
Dr Clare Hambling, of the NHS, said: “These results are extremely encouraging.
“By combining the effectiveness of existing weight management services with an easy to access service available on your phone or computer, more people can be supported to improve their health.
“While this study looked at the initial 64,000 patients referred in the programme’s first year, we have now seen more than 358,000 referrals by GPs.”
Around 38 per cent of adults in England are overweight, and a further 26 per cent obese.
The NHS says obesity costs £6.1billion a year, but the total cost of all linked conditions is believed to be much higher.
The free digital weight loss programme is open to English adults with a BMI over 30 and have either diabetes or high blood pressure, and involves diet and exercise advice for 12 weeks.
It is also available to people with BMIs of 27.5 or more — meaning they are obese — if they are from Black, Asian or minority ethnicities.
The study, published in The Obesity Journal, looked at how well it worked from April 2021 to March 2022.
Some 63,937 were referred to the scheme during the year, with half taking up the offer.
Of those, 14,268 complete the 12-week programme, losing an average of 8.59lb (3.9kg) on average.
Of all the people who started the scheme — including those who did not finish it — the average weight lost was 4.85lb (2.2kg).
Andrea Leadsom said: “I am delighted to see how effective the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is in helping people living with obesity to lose weight and improve their health.
“Services like this one are a vital tool for improving public health and easing pressures on our NHS from complex conditions.”
‘I WAS BUZZING’
Stevie Marshal, 34, said the programme helped him lose weight despite hi busy lifestyle.
He said: “I found it easy to use the app and my favourite part was the ‘my journey’ part of it which showed me my weight loss and activity changes.
“This helped me figure out how to do it without putting too much pressure on myself or being overwhelmed. It’s also really helpful, as it highlights improvements I’ve made.
“I found the tracking of my weight, measurements, steps a useful motivational tool, I was buzzing.”
Lucy Jones joined the programme in December 2022 and said she enjoyed the flexibility of doing short classes at home “whenever I wanted”.
She added: “I enjoyed the coaching; my coach made me feel comfortable. I could discuss my concerns and progress on the programme with Sarah, she was amazing.
“I felt so at ease talking to her. Some weeks I hadn’t lost weight, her support was solid, her focus was less about the weight but other tangible changes.
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“I didn’t really understand that at first, but she showed me that I was still seeing changes.
“I was feeling better within myself, I had more energy to do things and just hearing her say that was a good, it kept me going.”
How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to healthier living, rather than any drastic measures.
The NHS tips – which can be adopted slowly – include:
- Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week
- Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour
- Cut down on food that’s high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
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