2023-2024

Due to the success of our previous courses Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council commissioned us to run 2 more weight management courses. Our courses focussed on the specific requirements of South Asian Women with the session content based on the group’s needs, allowing us to tackle the topics most relevant to the participants.

Participants attended twice a week for 12 weeks, with follow ups at 6 months and 12 months. In the first session personal health details were taken including height, weight, body fat and muscle, blood pressure and an ECG to detect atrial fibrillation. Using the individuals results a personal diet plan was given showing the number of portions of different food groups each person can consume in a day, this was done to encourage overall healthy eating rather than simple calorie counting. Additional sessions included hunger vs craving, takeaways, chocolate, fruit and nuts, advantages and types of exercise, blood sugar and meal planning. The sessions also included physical activity, usually circuit training, which was gradually increased in difficulty and intensity to continually challenge the women.

Participants were recruited by the council’s Health and Wellbeing team; 20 people signed up to one of the two courses with 12 people completing the full 12 weeks, losing a combined total of 36.7kg (5 stones 10 pounds). As well as the quantitative weight lost, participants mental wellbeing improved as a result of attending the course, the average score at the beginning was 23.7 out of 35 which increased to 28.8 by the end. In general, only 15% of people score 28 or higher, which indicates higher mental wellbeing, a score of 20 or less indicates possible depression.

10 people from the previous cohorts attended a follow up appointment, half (5) of these had continued to lose a total of 15.7kg (2 stones 6 pounds).

2022-2023

Following on from the two courses run in the previous year, the final three weight management courses were completed this year. Funded by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, our courses focussed on the specific requirements of South Asian Women with the session content based on the group’s needs, allowing us to tackle the topics most relevant to the participants.

Participants attended twice a week for 12 weeks (apart from the final group which completed 10 weeks due to the beginning of Ramadan overlapping with the final 2 weeks), with follow ups at 6 months and 12 months. In the first session personal health details were taken including height, weight, body fat and muscle, blood pressure and an ECG to detect atrial fibrillation. Using the individuals results a personal diet plan was given showing the number of portions of different food groups each person can consume in a day, this was done to encourage overall healthy eating rather than simple calorie counting. Additional sessions included hunger vs craving, takeaways, chocolate, fruit and nuts, advantages and types of exercise, blood sugar and meal planning. The sessions also included physical activity, usually circuit training, which was gradually increased in difficulty and intensity to continually challenge the women.

Participants were recruited by the council’s Health and Wellbeing team; 38 people attended one of the three courses and lost a total of 66.3kg (10 stones 6 pounds).

Follow ups with groups from the previous year as well as the current groups were completed with 13 people continuing to lose a further 29kg (4 stones 8 pounds) between them.

Case study

S attended the weight loss program in July 2022. She had several health conditions including rheumatoid arthritis which significantly affected her day to day movement. Through small changes in her diet and small increases in her activity levels S achieved a small weight loss of 1.7kg over the 12 weeks, however at the final follow up which takes place a year after commencing the program S had continued to lose weight (a further 7.9kg) and now had a healthy BMI and was focussing on maintaining her weight. “I learned a lot about healthy eating and portion sizes but it was the exercise that made such a difference. Because of my health conditions I was quite limited but we were able to adapt the exercises so I was able to take part in the full session with the rest of the group. By the end of the program I could do so much more. I managed to carry on losing weight afterwards by being more active in my day-to-day life and keeping my eye on the food. I’m happy to be able to keep my weight as it is now”.

2021-22

Working in partnership with the borough council, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Be Strong, we ran two 12-week weight management courses focussing on the specific needs of South Asian women. Each course is based on the groups needs which allows us to tackle the most relevant topics to each person. Participants attend twice a week for 12 weeks, with follow up at 6 months and 12 months. In the first session personal health details are taken including height, weight, body fat and muscle, blood pressure and an ECG to detect atrial fibrillation. Using the individuals results a personal diet plan is given showing the number of portions of different food groups each person can consume in a day, this is done to encourage overall healthy eating rather than simple calorie counting. Other sessions have included hunger vs craving, takeaways, chocolate, fruit and nuts, benefits and types of exercise, blood sugar and meal planning. The sessions also include physical activity, for example circuit training, gym, physical yoga and walking and each participant is given a complementary 6-month gym membership to Bangor Street Community Gym. So far, two groups (20 people) have completed the 12-week program and lost a total of 10 stones 9 pounds.

‘Every time I come here; I feel empowered’

‘Sophie and Samim can educate us but it’s our responsibility to take action and change our diet and health’