Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Behavioural toolkit: has been designed by our multidisciplinary team including the dietitians, trainee health psychologist with a specialist consulted during the development. 

Exercise content: physical exercise specialists in collaboration with our dietetics team to ensure appropriateness. 

Cultural toolkit: external dietetic professionals who work with individuals of that culture in collaboration with our dietetic team to ensure the right mix of experience and programme application.

The sessions are designed to be interactive to assist your patients with long term habit changes to eating, drinking and activity behaviours. The App and workbook content is available so that your patients can access education before attending sessions.

This has taken away the focus on activities that were 'knowledge giving' with more emphasis on activities that are 'discussion' based reflecting on 'what's going well, what's more challenging' so that practitioners and the peer support of the group, help patients identify further changes they can try as part of their journey to meet their weight and health goals

The next step of the plan is for patients to have choice to flex their meals based upon foods and eating styles they prefer. We have a low carbohydrate meal plan and a low fat meal plan. The higher fibre element has been maintained from Fruit and Veg intake and recommending high fibre carbohydrates, along with a shift towards higher protein due to positive impact on feelings of fullness. The dietary approach that people can stick to until they can meet their weight and health goals, and afford, is the most important consideration over macro nutrient content which is why there are two options. People can toggle between meal plans and between steps. The plate models are a starting point and practitioners can help patients alter the different food groups to suit there likes, preferences and cultural requirements. Non meat based proteins are encouraged such as beans, pulses, eggs as part of the recommendations for the population to have an affordable and sustainable eating pattern. 

For more information, please see the following paper "Is There an Optimal Diet for Weight Management and Metabolic Health?": https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28214525/

Additionally, alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram, which can make it more challenging to maintain a calorie deficit and may hinder weight loss progress.

As individuals transition to a maintenance phase and gradually increase their calorie intake, occasional alcohol consumption may be considered, if appropriate for their goals and circumstances. As per all Counterweight programmes, work with your patients to tailor the programmes with the aim of achieving optimal nutrition from a reduced energy intake. Removing alcohol reduces energy and no other nutrients so a sensible goal in weight loss and weight loss maintenance programmes.