Essexilaisen lääkäriaseman vhh-terapiatyhmä laihtui yli tonnin.
Patients at Freshwell Health Centre in Finchingfield, Essex, have lost over a metric tonne in weight after following a low carb weight loss programme run by GPs at the surgery.
The programme has been so successful that it has now been rolled out to the whole of the Colne Valley Primary Care Network area, including Pump House Surgery in Earls Colne, Coggeshall and Elizabeth Courtauld Surgeries, Freshwell Health Centre, Hedingham Medical Centre and Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre.
Dr Ronan Fenton, System Medical Director for Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership, said: ‘In mid and south Essex, we want to ensure that as many people as possible live healthy fulfilled lives without needing health and care input. However, when they do need help, it’s there in the best way possible within the resource available. That way people live longer, and the Health and Care System lasts longer. The Colne Valley Low Carb Programme is a great example of local healthcare teams listening to and working with their local citizens to do exactly that – well done!’
The low carb weight loss programme was devised by doctors Dr David Oliver and Dr Kim Andrews, alongside fellow GPs from Freshwell Health Centre, who wanted to offer an alternative method to traditional calorie counting, so decided to try a low carb approach.
Obesity is associated with many diseases including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer, as well as stroke. It can also lead to mental health conditions affecting the quality of life and can potentially lead to psychological problems, such as depression and low self-esteem.
Dr Oliver said: “We know that excess weight can often lead to serious long-term conditions and with 63% of Essex adults currently overweight or obese. This emerging crisis needs to be tackled before it becomes more critical”.
GPs at Freshwell Health Centre started by advising people with a BMI of over 25 and those that had type 2 diabetes, or nondiabetic hyperglycaemia, about a low carb lifestyle through reducing their sugar and carbohydrate intake as well as setting up the Freshwell Low Carb Project and information website
https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk.