Dieters in east and north Birmingham keep off the pounds with telephone support programme
1 April 2010
People around east and north Birmingham are set to be helped to lose weight and keep it off – thanks to a programme of innovative telephone support.
Research has shown that many people who shed the pounds as part of a weight loss programme often ‘rebound’ and end up piling the weight back on when the programme comes to an end. Now Birmingham OwnHealth, a telephone based health support service, is here to help the yo-yoers.
Around 300 people across the area will go from their NHS weight loss programme – such as Size Down, Dietetics or the specialist weight management service – into the hands of the Care Managers at Birmingham OwnHealth, who will help them to maintain their weight or lose even more.
The Care Managers will call their members regularly to motivate them to maintain the positive lifestyle choices they started in the weight loss programme, such as eating healthier and exercising more.
There’s even better news for the lucky dieters, as they will be receiving shopping vouchers to reward them for joining, regularly providing their weight readings and successfully keeping off the flab at the end of six months.
Linda Hindle, Consultant Dietitian at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “Birmingham OwnHealth has already proved successful with helping members who have long-term health conditions to lose weight and so improve their health.
“We know that weight maintenance is much more difficult than weight loss because although it requires the same amount of effort, it doesn’t come with the same positive reinforcement such as weight loss, compliments and change in appearance. Long term support and incentives will improve the likelihood that people maintain the lifestyle changes they made to lose weight, and if people can maintain that weight loss for two years, they have a good chance of never putting it back on.”
Studies show that a relatively modest weight loss leads to improved levels of cholesterol and sugar in the blood, reduced blood pressure and reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
To find out more about Birmingham OwnHealth or the weight maintenance programme, people should ask a GP or other health professional in east or north Birmingham or go to www.birminghamownhealth.co.uk.