Weight loss service

Weight gain or loss can happen over time and comparing yourself with others isn’t a good way to know if your weight could affect your health. The most common way to find out if you’re a healthy weight for your height is by calculating your BMI (Body Mass Index).

Check if you’re a healthy weight by using the NHS BMI calculator.

Waist circumference is used to understand if your health could be affected by excess tummy fat. This is a measurement all the way around your body at the middle point between the bottom of your ribs and your hip bone.

Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems, even if their BMI falls within the healthy range.

If you’re overweight or obese, then your health could be affected by a weight-related disease. These can be short-term problems that go away when you lose weight, like indigestion, breathlessness or difficulty doing physical activity. Other serious long-term problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers are also more likely to develop if you’re overweight or obese.

If you’re underweight then this can also affect your health, in particular your immune system. It’s important to understand why you’re underweight, whether you’ve not been eating a lot, or if there could be an underlying medical reason.

The best way to lose weight is steadily, through a combination of healthy eating, eating less and taking regular exercise. With the right diet and regular exercise, you should not only lose weight but have more energy to enjoy life.

To lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than your body uses. It will be easier to do this if you limit the amount of food and drink you eat that is high in sugar or fat and cut down on alcohol too. Avoid snacking, make sure you don’t miss meals, and be aware of your portion sizes.

We will signpost you to organisations who can give you more weight management support and information, including the NHS 12 week diet and exercise plan, and the NHS 12-week fitness plan.