Howard’s Way opens its fourth diet control centre

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;} This new centre will help treat a further65 patients a year and forms part of Howard’s Way’s expanding programme totreat over 400 patients nationally each year.   The new Howard’s Waycentre, in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, was officially opened – on 24 th February – by Dorothy Thornhill, the elected Mayor of Watford. She commented: “Fromwhat I’ve heard today, Howard’s Way can bring life-changing happiness – and Ihope that its new Centre will enable it to do that for people in the Watford and Croxley areas.”   Speaking at the launch,Penelope Howard, an expert inthe field of obesity and head of Howard’s Way, said: “ Since I started Howard’sWay in July 1997, we’ve enabled over 2,000 patients to lose over three stonesin weight each. During this time not one person has ever become ill as a resultof being on the programme.”   Penelope wenton to stress that Howard’s Way: ·          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 ·          is ‘here’ for them, offering free support and guidance for life     “As a result,” she continued, “we make a dent in thenation’s obesity figures; we’re a viable alternative to bariatric surgery, andwe save the NHS money by reducing the demand for obesity-related medication orsurgery.”   Howard’s Way has had a failure rate of just two percent over the years - and those who drop out of the programme tend to do so inthe first week, suggesting that they were not committed to the programme.   At thelaunch, Dave Abernethy revealedthat, a ccording to an NHS InformationCentre for Health and Social Care report, published last February: in 2007, 24per cent of adults (aged 16 or over) in England were classified as obese.This was an overall increase from 15 per cent in 1993.   Today,according to some sources, some 45 per cent of Britain ’s population is classed as‘obese’.   “Predictionsfrom a Government agency suggest that the cost to the UK of the ‘obesity epidemic’ will treble to £50 billion a year by 2050 unless urgent action is taken,” he added.   “Obesityis not just a ‘cosmetic’ issue. Obesity has been shown to increase the risks ofcontracting a range of conditions including high blood pressure, coronary heartdisease, diabetes, cancer and sleep apnoea.   “So,preventing – and countering – obesity is a medical issue which has benefits forboth the obese and for the NHS,” Dave said. “Moreover, if we can reduce theburden on the NHS – both in resources and monetary terms - caused by thetreatment of the obese, we can reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”   Howard’sWay’s approach to combating Britain ’sexpanding waistlines and growing obesity problem is to sign up obese patientsto a join a group of dieters on a 12-week VLCD programme. During that time,each patient, typically, loses three stones in weight.   “Oncethey join a group, they come along to one of our centres – such as the one inCroxley Green – at least five times a week for the first week and then twice aweek for four weeks,” said Penelope. “They also receive 24 hour phone supportthroughout the 12 weeks of their diet.   “No one who isoverweight has chosen to be so. Their weight is the undesirable net result of bad choices ,” she continued.   “Inour efforts to treat our obese patients we have two goals,” she said.   “Wewant to teach them about nutritional values of food; how to see past misleadingadvertising on food; how their bodies use different foods, and which foods –such as white sugar - are likely to have an addictive quality about them.Secondly, we want to keep them nutritionally supported and healthy while theyshed their excess weight at the rate of 14 to 21 pounds every four weeks whilethey are on the programme.”   Two of Howard’sWay’s former patients – Kelly Whistance, 23, and Shelley Williams, 32 – whohave lost four stones and nine and a half stones respectively, providedinsights into the programme. Kelly, a trainee solicitor, said: “I went downthree dress sizes in 16 weeks and I now feel ‘amazing’. I’m more confident andhappy – and I’m proud that I have achieved my goal.   “Physically,emotionally and mentally, enrolling on the programme was a bit of a shock tothe system. The programme involved a steep learning curve – about such thingsas food addiction – but I received some terrific support form the Howard’s Waylocums.   “I also receiveda great deal of encouragement from my GP, who was glad that I was doingsomething positive about my weight,” she added.   Shelley, an osteopath,stated: “I’d been on other diets but I found the Howard’s Way diet was theeasiest of them all – principally because I received individual and personalhelp. The Howard’s Way staff are genuinely interested in each patient – as aperson – and that’s a great help in giving you the motivation to succeed.   “Now that I havelost my excess weight I can be much more active,” added Shelley who, amongother things, is scheduled to climb Ben Nevis in the summer.   Howard’sWay’s new centre, in New Road ,Croxley Green, has become the organisation’s headquarters. Howard’s Way’s other Weight Loss Centres arein Stanmore, Luton & Dunstable, and Victoria, in London .   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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