A NEW weight management programme is to be launched in Bradford to reduce the problem of obesity among South Asian women and improve their overall health.

The initiative has been launched by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and will support those patients who have been identified for bariatric surgery to help them achieve long-term, successful weight loss.

It has been shown that South Asian females are at risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the white European population, and typically develop the condition up to 10 years later and at a lower BMI.

The programme will be held over 12 consecutive weeks where patients will have a 90-minute session, split between a female dietitian and a female fitness instructor. It has been designed with a ‘by patients, for patients’ ethos in mind, using data collected during a focus group.

Jinan Rabbee, nutritionist, personal trainer and PhD researcher in diabetes, said: “Through scientific research and evaluation of interventions that have taken place in the South Asian community and through conducting focus groups, we have developed a culturally sensitive weight management programme tailored to the South Asian community to help make lifestyle modifications in order to reduce the risk of diet-related illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.”

The programme will include a ‘cook and eat’ sessions where patients can bring their own cooked food and will be taught to calculate nutritional information to highlight different methods of cooking, preparation and portion control.

There will also be physical activity sessions. These will be female only and will include both exercise and theory, busting myths about fat loss and helping patients with goal setting, motivational techniques and behavioural change.

Endocrinologist and obesity specialist Dr Rajeswaran, will deliver a medical session as part of this 12-week programme which has been specifically tailored to the South Asian community. This will provide a space for people to discuss common concerns like lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes and hormone imbalance.

The first group is taking place at the end of August. To join the programme, people need to ask their GP to refer them to the NHS Mid Yorkshire weight management service.