The NHS has launched a weight loss pilot scheme with Imperial College Hospitals as part of a new wellbeing scheme to keep staff healthy.
The £134,000 scheme offers the trust’s 10,000 staff an opportunity to access help from a range of dieticians, clinicians and help from weight-management organisation MoreLife.
The pilot will provide the blueprint for a national rollout which aims to help 700,000 NHS staff to keep healthy and tackle the impact of diabetes in the workplace.
The programme is a joint initiaitive between NHS England, Public Health England (PHE) and Diabetes UK.
Duncan Selbie, cheif executive of PHE, said: “This programme is putting ‘evidence into action’ on the ground.
“Despite type-2 diabetes being largely preventable, 2.5 million people in England already have the disease with another 9.6 million at high risk of developing it and this cannot be ignored.”
Ruth Warden, assistant director of employment services at NHS Employers, added: “The health of NHS staff is increasingly supported and this new initiative can help.
“Lasting health improvements come from changing our habits and finding ways to incorporate exercise into our daily routines. Employers can help staff take those positive steps in many different ways, including cycling schemes, providing healthier food, ensuring staff can rest properly during breaks and providing forums to talk about fitness.
“One challenge for local trusts will be to reach beyond those staff who are already predisposed to lose weight.
“This means approaching the issue with sensitivity, avoiding pressure and providing enough options to make it feel inclusive.
“Line managers have a big role in changing workplace culture but many would appreciate help on how to discuss weight when it comes up. So trusts will be looking into guidance or training for them.”
I was over weight and tried so many things. Different things work for different people and I was lucky enough to find one that worked for me. I lost 18 pounds in one month without much exercise and it’s been a life changer. I’m a little embarrased to post my before and after photos here but if anyone actually cares to hear what I’ve been doing then I’d be happy to help in any way. Just shoot me an email at [email protected] and I’ll show you my before and after photos, and tell you about how things are going for me with the stuff I’ve tried. I wish someone would have helped me out when I was struggling to find a solution so if I can help you then it would make my day