Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall health. In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and certain cancers, it can also improve mobility, mental health and sleep quality.
Making small, realistic changes to your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels can have a huge impact.
WOULD YOU LIKE HELP TO LOSE WEIGHT?
Would you like to learn more about a healthy way to lose weight? There are a number of ways in which we can support you! Find out more about the different options available below.
THE NHS BETTER HEALTH CAMPAIGN
The new campaign offers free evidence-based support and guidance to those working towards a healthier weight. There are a variety of NHS endorsed apps which will help people to introduce changes that will help them eat better and get active this summer, including the newly updated NHS Weight Loss Plan app.
THE NHS WEIGHT LOSS PLAN
Download the 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
Speak to your GP practice or local pharmacist today to find out how the programme could benefit you.
OUR SPECIALIST WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Managing a healthier weight can be a real challenge and there is a lot of conflicting information and advice.
If you have been struggling with your weight for some time, then you can ask for support from the specialist weight management Service at Livewell Southwest.
This is a free NHS service run by specialist staff who will support you to manage a healthier weight. More importantly working with the team can help you significantly improve your health and wellbeing.
To access this service you must be Devon resident with a BMI of over 26.
What we offer
A twelve-week core programme
Encouraging activity, changing eating habits and looking at how thinking and feeling affects our eating.
How to access this service:
Telephone
If you are unable to fill out the online referral form, then you can refer yourself by telephone. Please call the Weight Management Team on 01752 434623, Monday-Friday between 09:00am and 5:00pm to refer by telephone.
Fill in our online form
Click here to self-refer by completing our online referral form. You will need to know your height, current weight and have a list of your current medication. The form should take 10 minutes to complete.
GP Referral
You can also discuss your referral with your GP or Practice nurse.
THE NHS DIGITAL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, or both, to manage their weight and improve their health. It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access.
Webinars on weight management
Find out more and visit the Weight Management website today!
WHAT IS A HEALTHY WEIGHT?
Body Mass index (BMI) can be used to estimate whether you are a healthy weight for your height. You can easily check your BMI using this online calculator.
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy.
Eat Well
Whilst there are no ‘bad foods’, eating too many energy dense foods that are high in sugar and fat can make you more susceptible to weight gain, increasing your risk of becoming overweight or obese. This can lead to the development of numerous chronic diseases, including increased risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes and HD and reduce life expectancy.
Healthy choices matter. Paying more attention to the quality, quantity, and variety of foods you eat can help you achieve a healthy balanced diet and lose weight.
Move More
In combination with a healthy diet, coming more active is an excellent way to manage your weight as well as improve your energy levels and boost your self-esteem.
Engaging in formal exercise is one of the ways to become more active.
However, if you are not so keen on the idea of ‘exercise’, then incorporating more activity into your daily routine or simply finding ways to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down each day are just as important. Remember that all movement matters!
Focus on what you can do and do not be concerned with benchmarking yourself against others.