NHS Lanarkshire, an organization promoting the health and wellness of the people in North and South Lanarkshire local authority areas, helped in piloting a weight loss program called Counterweight in 2006.

Aside from helping people lose weight, it has become a great way to save money for the NHS, too since it meant lesser appointments with physicians.

A spokesman for the Trust said that, during the pilot, 40% of those who took part lost 5% of their body weight in a year.

Marney Quinn, specialist obesity dietician for Counterweight in Lanarkshire, said: “Although the health economic outcomes are not published, it is very cost effective.

“We know that the person who is clinically obese attends their GP and their practice nurse more often and takes more prescriptions. If you address their obesity the number of appointments with GPs and practice nurses all reduces.”

Counterweight chairman Professor Iain Broom said: “There is an argument that in the longer term it is cheaper to start doing something with patients who are willing to take part.”

Dr Colin Waine of the National Obesity Forum said the cost of not tackling obesity would mean rising bills for the health service.

He said: “If you can get people to lose 5-10% body weight, that is likely to be repaid in the long term.”

Another proof that health is definitely wealth!

vie EveningTimes