NHS Grampian have today launched a new online weight loss programme, with the aim of aiding residents in the north-east make meaningful lifestyle changes.
Healthy Helpings Online has been developed as a direct response to the pandemic after the NHS had to stop face-to-face meetings and group sessions. Community dieticians have developed this new programme so people can advise themselves on what works best for them and progress at their own pace.
The team at NHS Grampian had already uncovered anecdotal evidence that people were putting on weight as a result of working home, making this the ideal tool for north-east residents to not only lose that extra weight, but to make meaningful lifestyle changes ensuring the excess weight stays off.
Community dietician, Fabiola Solano, said: “It’s a totally free service aimed at helping the people of the north-east improve their diet, weight and overall health.
“Weight loss has many advantages. The benefits include better general overall health, a reduced risk of developing diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease as well as the hugely positive benefits to people’s mental health. People who lose weight generally feel better about themselves. They feel more confident and have a greater self-esteem."
The programme will run over the course of 12 weeks with one session each week and will contain:
- A short film – These films will dissect the different aspects of a healthy lifestyle advising participants on how to make long-term change, rather than short-term. It will also look at some of the psychological factors regarding what and how we eat.
- Healthy Helpings Information – Information that is specifically designed for this programme, which includes a weekly activity book serving as a reminder of some of the more important points from the session.
- Links – There will also be links to other sessions and any information cited during the film or session.
Community dietician, Ellen Patterson, said: “People who were previously very active have in some cases lived very different lives in the last few years and many will have seen some affect from that.
“Our partners in psychology have been involved in developing this programme in such a way that it helps people look at their behaviours and habits and to identify positive changes they can make to improve their lifestyle.
“Rather than a fad or crash diet where people lose a large amount weight in a very short time only to put it back on later, this allows people to make meaningful changes to their behaviour so that they are able to keep this up in the long term.”
More information about the online weight loss service is available here.
