As part of a wider national campaign to tackle obesity and promote maintaining a healthy weight, local authorities have been given funding to expand weight management programmes. Suffolk County Council has been awarded this funding which they have delegated to the OneLife Suffolk Adult Weight Management programme.
Who we are
OneLife Suffolk is a partnership between Leeds Beckett University and MoreLife, commissioned by Suffolk County Council. Our head office is based in Ipswich, and we have offices in Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds with services that cover the County.
Our weight management programmes for adults, children, teens, and families are designed to create long-lasting shifts in behaviour and give clients the tools and support they need to achieve their health goals.
Aims of the Weight Loss Pilot Programme to support Individuals who live with Learning Disabilities
This pilot aims to provide a more accessible and inclusive programme for individuals who live with Learning Disabilities in Suffolk to encourage and promote healthy lifestyle behaviours. Studies show that 37% of people with Learning Disabilities are likely to be living with excess weight or obesity compared to 30.1% of people without Learning Disabilities. *
*Taken from “Obesity: Identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in children, young people and adults” (National Clinical Guideline Centre 2014)
Through co-production of a programme curriculum and resources with local adults living with Learning Disabilities, their families and carers, external organisations, healthcare providers, the local community, and charities, we aim to produce a programme that meets the needs and supports clients with Learning Disabilities.
How will we achieve these aims
We have created a specific and tailored Adult Weight Management curriculum in partnership with local providers and charities to best serve individuals needs to help form healthy lifestyle behaviour changes.
Through internal training we have created a range of supplementary Easy Read format resources to make the curriculum information more accessible. These can also be downloaded from our website here.
The design of the programme through partnership with external stakeholders as been formulated around a 12 week structure that is split into 6 core themes, providing clients with time for reflection and questions.
Finally after the 12 week initial stage, there is a 14 week maintenance stage to support clients in making their healthy lifestyle changes.
Involvement
If you would like more information regarding the programme, or if your organisation wishes to be involved please email Judith Godfrey at: onelife.ldreferrals@nhs.net
