Howard’s Way fights UK’s obesity problems

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} According to the online life insurance comparison website Quoteboffin.co.uk, risinglevels of obesity could see a substantial rise in the number of people applyingfor health insurance. Commenting on the increasingly significant issue of‘Obese Britain’, the website said that, with 20% of the UK ’s population now classed as clinically obeseand more people dying from weight related diseases than ever before, the UK 's obesitycrisis is adding a heavyweight strain to the NHS.   “At £2.6bn a year,the cost of obesity-related NHS bills is asking tax payers to dig ever deeperinto their pockets in order to cover the cost,” agreed Penelope Howard , an expert in the field of obesity and head of Howard’s Way. “ The effect that obesity is having on NHSresources and, in particular, on waiting times - which have begun to rocket asobesity-related illnesses add even more patients to already crowded lists - is increasingly concerning .”   While QuoteBoffin.co.ukargues that the fear of long waiting lists will be the main driver to moreconsumers turning to private health cover in order to guarantee prompt andprofessional medical treatment, Penelope Howard ’sorganisation is doing something practical to stem the rising tide of obesityamong adults in the UK .   It recentlyinvested in its fourth Weight Loss Centre, which is capable of helping afurther 65 patients a year lose several stones in weight through the ‘totalfood replacement’ (TFR) treatment of the Howard’s Way VLCD programme.   Moreover, it hasexpanded its ‘distance dieter’ operations, enabling adults from all over the UK tobenefit from a programme that sees its patients lose at least three stones inweight in an initial 12 week period.   “So far, we havehelped around 180 people from all over Britain to stop being obese – and that’sin addition to more than 2,000 patients who have successfully followed the Howard’s Way dietsince the organisation began in 1997,” Penelope said.   “Obesity inthe UK is projected to grow by some 10% every decade for the foreseeable future,” sheadded. “One approach is to say that this trend is inevitable and so we shouldmerely seek to mitigate the consequences of obesity but our approach is to helpobese people take action to counteract their obesity – and live healthier,happier and more active lives.   According to Penelope,the Howard’s Way VLCD: ·          helps patients lose all the weight they want to lose ·          keeps them fit and healthy while they do so ·          re-educates them on the properties; values and dangers of foods for theirfuture weight management ·          offers free support and guidance for life   “This means that we are making a dent in the nation’sobesity figures; we’re a viable alternative to bariatric surgery, and we savethe NHS money by reducing the demand for obesity-related medication or surgery,”she stated.   “ouraim is to teach our patients about nutritional values of food; how to see pastmisleading advertising on food; how their bodies use different foods, and whichfoods – such as white sugar - are likely to have an addictive quality aboutthem,” Penelope added. “Secondly, we want to keep them nutritionally supportedand healthy while they shed their excess weight at the rate of 14 to 21 poundsevery four weeks while they are on the programme.”   End   About Howard’s Way VLCD   Penelope Howard had worked with obesepatients and a very low calorie diet (VLCD) for some five years before shefounded Howard’s Way in 1998.   Those enrolling on the Howard’s Way VLCDinitially agree to an 18 week programme involving regular meetings twice weeklyfor the first four weeks, then once a week from there on. For the ‘DistanceDieter’ these meetings are replaced with one-to-one ‘support calls’ every week.In addition, Howard’s Way staff try to speak to those beginning the diet for atleast five minutes a day to provide vital ‘moral’ support.   Howard’s Way recognises that the hardeststruggle is maintaining lost weight. So, while dieting, all patients are talkedthrough weekly handouts to gain knowledge and understanding on the workings oftheir body and the effects of eating certain foodstuffs. Additionally, Howard’sWay Maintenance support is ‘free of charge for life’ for all our dieters.   Typically, most patients lose at leastthree stones (20 kilos) in weight, men often much more, in the first 12 weeksof the diet. Those who choose to carry on with the diet continue to lose abouta stone (6.5 kilos) every four weeks.   The Howard’s Way VLCD comprises speciallyformulated foods, in the form of: milk shakes; soups; and fruit bars;containing the full complement of vitamins, minerals, protein and essentialfatty acids that an adult requires but restricting the calorific intake, toinduce a state of ‘mild dietary ketosis’ after day three of the diet.   Further information from: Penelope Howard: + 44 (0)1923 773851 / penny@croxley.demon.co.uk Bob Little,Bob Little Press & PR: +44 (0)1727 860405 / bob.little@boblittlepr.com

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