Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has partnered with autism and learning disability support charity Talkback to run a community weight loss programme, tailored for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
It’s been recognised for many years that people with learning disabilities are at increased risk of being overweight or obese compared to the general population.
The most recent data indicates nationally that 37% of people living with learning disabilities are obese, compared to 30.1% of people without learning disabilities.
The programme, called Energise, started this month at Walton Court Community Centre in Aylesbury and at the Hive in Wycombe.
12, two-hour sessions, led by dietitians, exercise and learning disability experts, will take place every other week until March 2022.
Topics such as eating balanced meals, portion sizes, healthy snacks, triggers to eating and eating out are covered along with an exercise session at each group.
Trust Specialist Weight Management Dietitian Judi Earl said: “There is a real need in our communities for support of this kind.
“We know that people with learning disabilities are more likely to have BMIs above the healthy weight range and have low levels of physical activity.
“This often leads to long term health conditions. We hope this programme will give clients and their carers the knowledge and resources to make positive changes to their diets.”
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