Take steps towards better health – with Life 4 Life

NHS Norfolk is inviting people across the county to take part in Life 4 Life – a new programme designed to help them adopt a healthier lifestyle.

The programme is coordinated by Paul Wilson and the Norfolk Life team at the Great Yarmouth Community Trust, and is run in partnership with NHS Norfolk.

Life 4 Life is open to all adults in Norfolk who are overweight – that is those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25-30, or with a waist measurement of more than 37-40in for men, and about 31-34in for women.

Don’t worry if you don’t know your BMI – the team can work it out for you. They will then join you up to the Life 4 Life programme, or advise you on what other services you can access. All participants must be aged 18 and over.

LIFE stands for Lifestyle, Improvements, Food and Exercise, and the sessions are delivered to groups of 12-15 adults. Booking is essential.

There are currently Life 4 Life trainers in Great Yarmouth, Thetford, Norwich, Diss, Reepham and Holt, and the list of venues is set to increase.

Paul said: “The key to this programme is to offer something that is sustainable. We’re looking at an all round improvement in lifestyle and wellbeing not merely weight loss.

“The sessions are designed to allow participants to reflect on their own lifestyle and then think about simple changes they could make by giving them good quality information. They are designed to be interactive, enabling people to get the most they can out of each session.

“We would encourage anyone who is interested to phone us and book a place on the course. Venues will be confirmed when we know how many people wish to attend.”

The four-week programme consists of a two-hour session each week, covering nutrition and exercise theory. It has been written by exercise and nutrition specialists, and is delivered by qualified Life 4 Life trainers.

Topics covered include metabolism, food labelling, food groups, benefits of exercise, goal setting, barriers to exercise – and much more!

Lucy Macleod, NHS Norfolk’s Consultant in Public Health, said: “In Norfolk, on average, more than a quarter – 26.85% – of all adults are obese. As the leaders of the local NHS, we continue to work hard to reduce that trend, and we are commissioning Life 4 Life as a preventative service to help overweight adults avoid obesity.

“The main causes of obesity are known to be a lack of exercise and a high calorie diet, and Life 4 Life aims to address this.

“Obesity is one of NHS Norfolk’s top public health priorities. There is a very real cost to the NHS as a result of obesity related conditions, but the cost is much greater to the people who suffer from them.

“Life 4 Life could be the first step towards a healthier future, and we encourage anyone interested to get in contact.”

To find out more about Life 4 Life, call freephone 0800 023 4798 or visit www.priorycentre.co.uk/nutrition

 

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