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Getting Help with Your Weight

If you are concerned about your weight and your health – we’re here to help. We understand that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be challenging for many people, and each person’s weight journey is different.

There are a range of support services from local to national which you can access, free of charge.

Don't know where to start?

Knowing where to start when trying to achieve or maintain a healthy weight can sometimes be a challenge.

To learn more about understanding weight, visit Understanding weight - Healthy Weight Healthy You.

When you are ready, use the find your journey online tool to start your healthy weight journey.

Learn more about the different journeys available when starting your healthy weight journey.

BMI Calculator

To engage in most programmes or services, you will need to know your body-mass index (BMI). If you do not currently know your BMI, you can easily calculate it using this online tool.

NHS 111 Wales - Living and Feeling Well : BMI Calculator

 

Moving more

Adding some physical exercise into week can also help you to achieve a healthier weight. You can read about some of the tips and advice on the Moving More section of our Hub.

Run Wales is a social running group, available across Wales. There are a range of programmes to suit your individual needs and is open to those looking to walk, jog and run. To find your local group, use the following link Find a Group - Run Wales (irun.wales)

Parkrun which is a 5km running event held every Saturday at 9am across hundreds of locations around the UK. You can find a local Parkrun event near you here.

Visit the Moving More Together section for other social groups across Gwent.

Preventing & Managing a Chronic Condition

Maintaining a healthy weight can prevent you from developing some chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes or cardiovascular diseases (such as coronary artery disease). If you have been diagnosed with a chronic condition, maintaining a healthy weight is also key to managing your condition,

Although maintaining a healthy weight is key, understanding the other potential risk factors is just as important both for being aware of the signs or symptoms of a chronic condition before it develops and managing your chronic condition(s) upon diagnosis. Some of these risk factors are:  

  • Family history; you are more likely to develop a chronic condition if you have a parent, brother or sister with the condition,
  • Smoking tobacco or vaping; you can read the Stopping Smoking section for advice and services to help you quit
  • Frequently drinking alcohol which exceeds the recommended guidelines
  • Physical inactivity; you can read the Moving More section for advice on becoming more active
  • Age; the risk of developing a chronic condition increases the older you become
  • Race; some chronic conditions are more common in certain races.

Further information can be found by clicking on some of the main chronic conditions below, as well as details on the main benefits of maintaining a healthy weight whilst living with this condition and links to further support and advice. Please always consult with your GP or with healthcare professionals for personalised advice and guidance.