NHS-backed way to lose nearly 9lbs that doesn't involve diet shakes

• The 12-week weight loss plan gives diet, exercise and general lifestyle advice 
• READ MORE: We reveal the small portion sizes recommended by UK diet chiefs

In a world of Wegovy and other fat jabs, it’s easy to forget traditional methods of weight loss.

But diet and exercise really do work, according to the results of an NHS weight loss programme.

The online tool used by thousands of patients is helping dieters shed an average of 8.5lbs, a study shows.

Health leaders said its success shows how it will become a ‘vital tool’ in helping to reduce the nation’s bulging waistline.

Despite emerging evidence suggesting that weight loss interventions could be delivered effectively using digital technologies, researchers said there is little evidence of their effectiveness in routine care settings.

The online tool used by thousands of patients is helping dieters shed an average of 8.5lbs, a study shows

They wanted to assess the 12-week online plan, which gives diet, exercise and general lifestyle advice via a phone app or online, to patients referred by their GP.

Patients are eligible if they are clinically obese with a BMI of 30 or 27.5 for people from Black, Asian and minority, and also have diabetes, high blood pressure or both.

In its first year, half of the 63,937 patients referred to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme enrolled onto the service.

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX – AND WHAT IT MEANS 

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height.

For children and young people aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculation takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight.

Ethnicity can also affect the risk of some health conditions. For example, adults of Asian origin may have a higher risk of health problems at BMI levels below 25.

Standard Formula:

BMI = (weight in pounds / (height in inches x height in inches)) x 703

Metric Formula:

BMI = (weight in kilograms / (height in meters x height in meters))

Measurements:

Under 18.5: Underweight

18.5 – 24.9: Healthy

25 – 29.9: Overweight

30 or greater: Obese

More than half – 57 per cent – were women, with an average age of 57 and typical weight of 15st 7lbs among women and 17st 7lbs in men.

They were then triaged from levels one to three with help ranging from self-guided advice with optional group sessions to one-on-one coaching.

Of these, 14,268 completed the programme between April 2021 and March 2022, typically losing more than 8.5lbs each.

Even those who dropped out before finishing the course lost an average of almost 5lbs, according to the findings published in the Obesity Journal.

Dr Clare Hambling, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, said: ‘These results are extremely encouraging and show that by combining the effectiveness of existing weight management services with an easy to access service available on your phone or computer, more people can be supported to improve their health.’

She added: ‘While this study looked at the initial 64,000 patients referred in the programme’s first year, we have now seen more than 358,000 referrals by GPs and it’s very encouraging to see so many people benefit from the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme’.

In England, more than a quarter of adults are obese, costing the NHS more than £6 billion each year and projected to rise to £9.7billion by 2050.

The digital weight loss programme was introduced on the back of the pandemic and is one of a number of programmes ran by the NHS to reduce conditions such as type 2 diabetes, such as the soups and shakes diets.

Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said: ‘We know that two thirds of adults are overweight or living with obesity, so I am delighted to see how effective the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is in helping people living with obesity to lose weight and improve their health.

‘Services like this one are a vital tool for improving public health and easing pressures on our NHS from complex conditions.’

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