Sunderland City Council is offering Sunderland residents aged 18 and over with a BMI of 30 or above (or 27.5 if you’re from an ethnic minority background) the chance to join a free 26-week weight management programme.

Designed to give you all the support you need around weight management, getting active, making healthier food choices and wellbeing, the programme is tailored to your needs and aims to help you make positive and long-lasting changes to your health. To check your BMI, you can use this calculator.

During the programme, participants will recieve an initial one-to-one consultation to take initial measurements and data, and benefit from 6-weekly check-ins on a one-to-one basis to monitor your progress and receive support. Weekly group drop-in sessions will include activities like cooking demonstrations, low impact exercise classes, advice on nutrion and more, while weekly newsletters will help you with recipes and motivation delivered straight to your inbox. There’s even a dedicated YouTube channel with videos on nutrition and home workouts to keep you going throughout the programme.

The programme itself will be delivered through three venues – Houghton Sports & Wellness Centre (07387 532 424), Pallion Action Group (07387 531 590) and Washington Millennium Centre (07765 425 726).

To enrol, complete the online registration form, email [email protected] or call the number of the centre you’d prefer to attend.

Colleagues from outside of Sunderland are reminded that they can access the 12-week digital weight management programme for NHS staff if you have a valid NHS email, are 18+ and meet the same BMI criteria of 30 or 27.5 if you’re from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic group. To self-refer, click here.