A Southport Slimming World consultant is among those supporting the new Better Health marketing campaign.
The drive was launched earlier this month to help people prevent risks of developing serious illness and help reduce the risk of being hospitalised with Covid-19.
Better Health is working in partnership with 15 weight management and physical activity partners including Slimming World which are providing both free and discounted offers.The website will also signpost people to local weight management support.
From reducing the risk of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and up to 12 types of cancer, to lowering the chances of being hospitalised with Covid-19, the multimedia campaign highlights the serious health conditions which could be prevented by losing excess weight and offers free support and guidance to achieve this goal.
It is estimated that over 3 in 5 adults (63% of adult population) ) are at an increased risk from serious diseases as a result of being overweight.
Losing just 5% of body weight can seriously reduce the chance of heart disease and could make all the difference in preventing treatable heart conditions.
The benefits of losing weight brought to life through a unique look inside the body and include preventing up to 12 types of cancers and preventing chronic back pain.
Southport Slimming World consultant Dee Wright said: “Slimming World is proud to be a partner in the Government’s plans to tackle the obesity crisis.
“We have 53 years of expertise in the Psychology of Slimming and our founder Margaret Miles Bramwell and our nutrition teams have created a plan that is safe for everyone to follow! It’s backed by Public Health England and the Royal College of Midwives.
“In order to lose weight successfully and to combat the links to obesity and Covid, people urgently need to make changes to their lifestyles. This means eating healthily, becoming more active and sustaining it for the long term to remain slim for life!
“A new study has revealed that people who lose weight as part of a Slimming World group lose an average of 2st 5lbs more weight overall and can increase their mental toughness more than those who choose to go it alone.
“Over six months of attending a Slimming World group, slimmers showed increased scores in control, commitment, challenge and confidence – the characteristics of mental toughness identified in Professor Peter Clough’s 4Cs model. Read more about the research here http://ow.ly/KNkx50Hoeg.”
Dee added: “We give support to our members to ensure they don’t feel alone in doing this. We give them information and knowledge to help them make empowered healthy choices.
“We are proud to be a community-based support, our groups are fun, informative and friendly.
“Losing weight alone can be very difficult and research shows that members who attend a group are more successful in reaching their own personal targets.
“All our consultants have been on their own weight loss journey and fully understand that compassion and kindness are key!”
The new campaign highlights 6 benefits that could have a lasting impact on a person’s health by being a healthier weight:
- Decreased risk of common cancers (colon, liver, pancreas, kidney)
- Lowered risk of increased blood pressure
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Less risk of developing diabetes
- Less strain from chronic back and joint pain
- Decreased risk of being hospitalised or becoming seriously ill with Covid-19
The benefits have been brought to life in a unique way, in a full body x-ray animation providing a window into the body, highlighting 6 key health risks that can be reduced if excess weight is lost.
GP and TV Doctor, Dr Hillary Jones said: “These 6 benefits highlight the impact of carrying excess weight, and the range of benefits that can be achieved by reducing your weight. Small changes every day can help you lose weight and feel healthier.
“With Better Health, there are a variety of free NHS endorsed apps, resources and online tools to help people introduce simple changes that will help them eat better and get active this new year, including the NHS Weight Loss Plan, Couch to 5K and Active 10 apps.”
Southport Slimming World consultant Dee Wright said: “We have campaigned fòr many years to try and pioneer change. Our Tipping Point campaign called for calorie labels on alcohol, while our Health On The Shelf campaign called for supermarkets to do more to help shoppers make healthier choices
“There is still a long way to go, however members in our groups are supported to understand these challenges and how to overcome them!
“Our groups in Southport and across the UK are fully operating to current government guidelines to remain Covid safe.
“If anyone reading this would like to know more, information and local group details can be found at www.slimmingworld.co.uk”
The 6 benefits’ list has been created based on evidence in the government’s obesity strategy: Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives, alongside NHS and additional sources.
Better Health is working in partnership with 16 weight management and physical activity partners including:
Physical activity: Our Parks, Sport England, Better Leisure Centres, InstructorLive, Anytime Fitness, Pure Gym, Her Spirit
Weight management: Slimming World, GetSlim, MAN v FAT Football, Weight Watchers (WW), Second Nature, Healthier for Life, EFL Trust FIT Fans and Noom Weight.
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