Am I eligible for referral?
We accept patients aged between 18 and 70.
Why is your programme so successful?
Patients do well at The Healthier Weight Centre because our highly structured programme demands accountability whilst providing personalised feedback. The emphasis is on teaching you the skills required to manage your weight in today’s difficult environment.
How much does the programme cost?
Initial Consultation Free of charge
Full Medical Consultation (optional) £150
Weight loss programme (10 weeks) £400 + food
How do I start?
Call us on 0800 073 1146 and book an initial consultation. At that time, we will discuss the outline of the programme so that you know what you can expect from us but also what we expect from you!
What if I miss a class one week?
If you are unable to attend your regular weekly class, you may be able to attend another class on a different day.
What if I have a holiday booked?
Holidays can cause problems because you may lose much valuable momentum. If you have a holiday booked within the first 4 weeks of a new weight loss course we advise you to wait and join the next course.
Is it safe?
Bearing in mind that losing weight is going to have a significant impact on your health , it is probably one of the best things you can do compared to the long term effects of being overweight.
In the short term, using nutritional products generally enhance people’s diet because they provide complete nutrition and all essential vitamins and minerals. As a medically supervised programme you will be monitored throughout the weight loss programme.
Do I need a letter from my doctor to join the programme?
No. We are happy to take self-referrals. Unless requested not to, we would normally write to your GP as a courtesy to inform her/him that you have joined our programme.
Why is it important that the programme is medically supervised?
Many people who are overweight or obese have associated risk factors such as hypertension or raised blood cholesterol levels and some will already have established conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory problems. In addition, many people will be on various types of medication which may need to be adjusted as they lose weight. Because we provide expert clinical supervision throughout the programme, you have the peace of mind of knowing that the management of each of these elements is being taken care of.
I have a medical condition – does that prevent me from joining the programme?
It depends upon what the condition is, but there are very few situations in which we would be unable to accept someone onto the programme. For example, if you have hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, heart disease or respiratory problems, you are likely to do especially well on our programme. However, there are certain situations where you would be unable to join:
- If you are under active treatment for cancer
- If you have an unstable heart rhythm disorder
- If you are pregnant
- If you are currently under treatment for drug or alcohol addiction
Your medical history will be taken prior to your joining the programme, so you will have plenty of opportunity to discuss this with the clinical staff at your nearest centre.
I have tried lots of diets before, what’s different about this one?
Firstly and most importantly it is different because it is NOT just a diet! Diets don’t work – at least not in the long-term, as they only address a small part of the problem. What makes our programme so powerful is that it addresses all the behaviours required for successful weight loss.
People lose weight quite quickly on the programme – isn’t that dangerous?
Not at all. Provided you are taking the correct balance of nutrients and you remain well hydrated, there is no clinical reason why you should not be losing 3-3.5 lbs per week or more on the programme. The often quoted view that you should aim to lose only 1-1.5 lbs per week, is based on old ideas which are simply not supported by the evidence. Indeed, recent studies show that the amount of weight lost in the first 4-6 weeks of a programme is strongly predictive of long-term success. So patients on our weight loss programme are encouraged to create real momentum as soon as possible!
If you lose weight quickly, doesn’t that mean you lose a lot of muscle?
Not necessarily. It’s true that almost any weight loss programme will result in some loss of lean tissue, but in our programme we are able to keep the loss of lean tissue to a minimum by ensuring adequate protein intake and by prescribing physical activity which utilises major muscle groups.
Why are nutritional products a key part of the programme?
There are three principle reasons why we use our own specially formulated nutritional products:
It allows us to control daily calorie intake within very strict limits, whilst ensuring the correct balance between key macronutrients – protein, fat and carbohydrate – is maintained.
It removes the “decision anxiety” which some people experience when they are trying to lose weight, because they are unsure as to what exactly they should be eating. Using “Weight to Go” products removes this anxiety and allows you to concentrate on other behaviours – record keeping, planning etc - essential to successful weight loss.
There is a large and remarkably consistent body of scientific evidence to show that the use of portion-controlled, calorie-restricted nutritional products (also called meal replacements) are extremely effective in promoting safe and rapid weight loss.
Do I have to use your nutritional products?
Yes – it’s an absolute requirement of the programme. The nutritional products have been designed with a specific purpose in mind i.e. to promote safe, rapid weight loss with preservation of lean (muscle) tissue.
To achieve our outstanding results, we have to control calorie intake within very strict limits and the best way to achieve this is by using portion-controlled, calorie restricted nutritional products which we have designed specifically for the purpose. The moment other types of food are allowed in, rates of weight loss slow down and success rates are significantly lower.
Why can’t I eat normal foods during weight loss?
The short answer is that it was eating “normal foods” that helped create your weight problem. It’s also important to understand that the nutritional products we use on the programme are not somehow inferior to your normal diet. In fact, given that they have been specifically designed to be low in saturated fat and salt, they may well be healthier than your normal diet.
Can you eat fruit and vegetables on the programme?
Yes – most definitely. Actually, the daily energy prescription includes a very specific target for vegetables and fruit, so you will be strongly encouraged to eat these as part of your weight loss programme.
What happens when I stop eating the products – don’t I just regain all the weight?
No. If you have completed the weight loss phase and you continue to practice the behaviours you have learned, there is no reason why you should regain the weight you have lost. However, following weight loss, we strongly advise all our patients to attend the monthly weight loss programme support groups.
I am a diabetic – can I still join and use the foods?
Yes – most definitely! In fact diabetics do extremely well on the programme. Weight loss leads to much better blood sugar control – often within days – and as you progress through the 13-week programme, you are quite likely to reduce (or even discontinue) your insulin or other diabetic medication. The nutritional products used in the programme are suitable for diabetics so you need have no concerns about this. We would, as a matter of course, write to you family doctor to let him/her know that you are on the programme and that we may need to modify your diabetic medication.
Am I overweight because I have a slow metabolism?
Not usually, no. Indeed, the heavier you are the higher your basal metabolic rate, not the reverse. Metabolic rate is complicated but it is something we discuss in our programme.
My weight has gone up because I’m taking HRT – can your programme help?
Although it is commonly assumed that HRT promotes weight gain, there is no scientific evidence to show that this is actually the case. For example, in the 14,000 women participating in the UK Women’s Heart Study, there was no difference in weight between those women taking HRT and those who were not, a finding which has been confirmed in several other studies. So the answer to your question is that there is no reason why your current HRT therapy should prevent you from losing and then maintaining a healthy weight.
