Healthy way to a slimline NHS
A HUNDRED hospital staff slimmed down to set an example to patients after it was revealed one in four NHS nurses is obese.
The pioneering programme, which led to a ban on fizzy drinks and sugary snacks i n the hospital’s restaurants, could now be rolled out across the UK.
The 12-week weight-loss plan was offered to s t aff at Manchester’s Tameside Hospital after trust chief executive Karen James raised concerns over employees’ health.
Ms James said: “Long hours and shift patterns often make it very difficult for people to make healthy choices, so they opt for the instant sweet fixes.
“These are dedicated healthcare professionals who believe they should be role models for their patients but the food environment has been working against them.”
The staff who took part included consultants, midwives, community nurses and medical
NURSE Annemarie Thompson, a member of Tameside’s palliative care team, had put on three stone from snacking at work on cakes, chocolate and other carb-filled foods.
She ballooned to a size 18 but says the Slimpod recordings helped her change her approach.
Annemarie, 51, now boycotts the sugary treats completely – and lost 16lb on the 12-week course to support secretaries. They were enrolled in a hypnotherapy weight loss programme using Slimpod, which helps retrain the brain through daily nine-minute audio recordings.
It aims to o change how people think nk about food through a mix of subconscious persuasion and coaching ing on how to cut sugar ar intake, boost exercise rcise and aid relaxation. ion.
Ninety per cent of those who o took part reported orted that they had lost interest st in snacking over ver the 12-week ek programme. e.
Instead they turned d to healthier er options that hat helped them em to slim down n and feel better about themselves. s.
In the most successful case, one member er of drop to a size 14. She said: “It shows you a different way of eating. I eat what I want, in moderation.
“If I feel full I stop eating and I’ve cut down portion sizes too.
“When you’re overweight and trying to advise people it’s like saying, ‘Do as I say but not as I do.’ I feel like a better role model to patients.”
Thinkingslimmer.com. staff lost 28lb over the three months. Another who suffered from chronic diabetes is about to come off her medication. After the success of the programme Tameside became the first hospita hospital in the country to completely ban fizzy drinks and sugary s snacks or other s sweet weet f oods oo f rom its restaurants restaurants. That will w s oon be extended to the vending machines across the site. Sli Slimpod founder San Sandra RoycroftDa Davis said: “Good he health is dependen ent on good food c choices. “When you’re w working in an e environment full o of unhealthy o options, people n need help to ch c hange t heir be behaviour – and ch change their relation tionship with food.” S Sandra, who sits on t he all- party parli parliamentary roup for obesity, o says her prog programme is based on neuroscience, psy psychology and beh behavioural science. She Sh is lobbying for it t to be rolled out mo more widely across the NHS. S Sandra added: “Fo For years people have been calling for the food environmen ment in hospitals to be t transformed. I app applaud Tameside for l leading the way.”