WeightWatchers® – the new WeightWatchers – named official provider of the Healthier You: NHS England Diabetes Prevention Programme
NHS England programme to support at least 200,000 people annually by 2023
as part of world’s largest programme for the prevention of type 2 diabetes
Healthier You participants will receive access to WW’s clinically-proven and award-winning weight-loss programme, tailored to help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
LONDON, Friday 29 March 2019 – WW – the new WeightWatchers – has been selected by the NHS in England to help address the growing type 2 diabetes epidemic as an official Diabetes Prevention Programme provider.
Appointed to the NHS England Framework and as part of the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, WW will build on its current services for the NHS, which are effective and nationally available in the UK. WW will offer a tailored programme to people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes referred by the scheme. Obesity is responsible for 80-85% of an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. WW is clinically-proven to support weight loss and improvement in blood sugar control in those diagnosed with prediabetes. In addition to helping participants to lose weight, the programme helps build healthier habits, including healthy eating, physical activity, and developing a helpful mindset .
Zoe Griffiths, Global Director of Nutrition at WW commented, “There are more than 12.3 million people living with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the UK. The growing obesity epidemic and the associated increase in type 2 diabetes are a public health crisis. We are proud to be appointed as a provider of the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to help tackle one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.”
Participants in the programme benefit from WW’s leading and proven approach with face-to-face and digital support, available across England. Those referred will also have access to WW’s range of tools including: 24/7 WW Coaches and Workshops (for those in the face-to-face service), extensive resources such as recipes, activity and wellness content, and the supportive social Connect community on the highly-rated WW app.
“Every two minutes in the UK, a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is made,” continued Griffiths. “It's absolutely within our power to reduce the risk with proven approaches and our studies have shown how to implement prevention of type 2 diabetes in the real world and offer livable programmes with real impact. WW has demonstrated how making lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with many of our members joining for this very reason.”
The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a collaboration between NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK and is the largest programme of its type in the world. It has already benefited thousands of people in England since its introduction in 2016. It can be accessed through a referral via a local GP or nurse, NHS Health check, local community event, with more information available through the Diabetes UK website and Diabetes UK online risk score.