What is the programme?

The Healthwise programme offers both Adult Weight Management and Physical Activity on Referral programmes to support you to achieve your personal goals whether that be losing weight or becoming more active.

Adult Weight Management: A group based 12 week programme which aims to support you with managing your weight. Each participant will be encouraged to attend a 2 hour session each week (including a 1 hour workshop and a 1 hour supported exercise session).

Physical Activity on Referral Programme: A 1-2-1, 12 week programme which aims to inspire individuals of all levels and abilities to increase and maintain their physical and mental health. We will support you to help reduce risk factors for chronic disease and manage existing medical conditions.

Who are we?

The programme is delivered by fully qualified exercise professionals. The team are on hand to offer information and support with physical activity and healthy lifestyles advice.

We are a team of health professionals that are qualified to assess customers with medical needs, and have the expertise to assign residents to specific and suitable activities to best suit their needs.

The staff that will speak to you on the phone are highly trained and motivated team members, who are experts at understanding needs, and being able to encourage and support you into booking your assessments and inductions.

The team of facilitators are expert health and fitness trainers, whose objectives are to ensure that you achieve your goals and improve your health. These team members are incredibly supportive, empathetic and compassionate, and have your best interests at the core of what they deliver.

Who can join the programme?

You will need to be over the age of 18 and either a Waltham Forest resident or registered with a Waltham Forest GP. You can be referred to the service by your consultant, GP, Practice Nurse or any other health or social care professional.

If your GP or nurse feel you may benefit from the programme they will need to complete a referral form and send it to the Healthwise team who will contact you to discuss the programme further and make an appointment.

What’s Included?

Both programs offer 12 weeks of comprehensive support featuring a variety of activities, such as:

Supervised gym workouts
Group fitness sessions
Water-based exercises
Community activities (e.g., wellness walks)

Where is my nearest programme?

The Programme runs from a range of venues across Waltham Forest including:

Criteria for Physical Activity

Inclusion Criteria for Physical Activity:

You are not currently achieving at least 30 minutes of at least moderate physical activity per week.
You need structured support to become physically active.
Your GP has deemed that you are 'ready to change'.
You have at least one condition that could be prevented or improved through being more active, such as:
- Increased risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Controlled Diabetes - Type I and Type II
- Cancer (12 months post-treatment)
- Arthritis
- Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Mild to moderate mental illness (depression or anxiety)

Exclusion Criteria for Physical Activity:

You do not achieve 30 minutes of exercise a week, but have no relevant/associated risk factors or chronic condition.
You are advised not to exercise according to current British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation guidelines.
You require specialist support to exercise (and are therefore unsuitable for a 'general' physical activity on referral programme).

Criteria for Weight Management

Inclusion Criteria for Weight Management:

Overweight with risk factors:

Your BMI is greater than or equal to 25, and you have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension, high cholesterol, family history of disease, 'pre-diabetes').
You are Black or Asian, and your BMI is greater than or equal to 23.5, and you have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease (as above).
Your BMI is greater than or equal to 30, or if you are Black or Asian and your BMI is greater than or equal to 27.5.
You need structured support to lose weight and have previously been unsuccessful in achieving and maintaining weight loss independently.
You have been assessed as 'ready to change' to lose weight.

Exclusion Criteria for Weight Management:

You have a diagnosed eating disorder.
You have other conditions or underlying medical causes for obesity requiring intensive specialist clinical management, such as:
- Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Metabolic syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
- Being on medication(s) that cause weight gain

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR SELF-REFERRAL?

We also offer self referral to Weight Management.

If you are a Waltham Forest Resident, and your BMI is over 30, or over 27.5 if you are Asian or Black, you can self refer straight into our scheme without a GP referring you, as long as you meet these BMI criteria, and you do not have any other health conditions.

To check your BMI: Calculate your body mass index (BMI)

Self refer now