City Health Care Partnership - "Ready To Lose Weight"

"As a finalist in the local SID awards, City Health Care Partnership was able to use this opportunity to showcase the highly effective and popular weight loss tool, www.readytoloseweight.co.uk.

The commitment, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the team from StyleTech has been invaluable in developing a versatile and responsive platform. City Health Care Partnership has been delighted with the development and the positive feedback being received from clients using the weight loss programme is incredibly encouraging.

City Health Care Partnership is confident that the website will play a significant and valuable role in future years in delivering a cost effective, evidence based and service-user led intervention which will support thousands of people. We are looking forward to building on what, already is, a strong relationship with StyleTech"
Head of Public Health Provider Services

Client

City Health Care Partnership (CHCP).

Development

Ready to Lose Weight online programme.

Background

City Health Care Partnership (CHCP) is responsible for providing NHS services throughout the Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire region.

Project Requirements

Obesity is high on the public health agenda in Hull where 1 in 5 men and 1 in 4 women, are categorised as obese.

This is partly due to the fact that only 29% of men and 24% of women in Hull take the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, 5 days a week.

StyleTech was asked to design and develop an interactive web presence which encompasses a personalised 24 week online weight management programme taking a combined approach of supported dietary changes whilst motivating increased levels of activity.

The Solution

After a lengthy tender process, StyleTech were commissioned to develop the new online programme in association with CHCP.

Achieving an online weight management and activity programme of this scale, within the specified design and development window of three months was a unique proposition.

StyleTech demonstrated that this could be achieved by working closely with the NHS management and health support teams to exercise strong project planning and risk management.

The resulting programme, which was completed before the agreed deadline of 1st January 2010, is proving to be engaging and enjoyable. Within the first six months, more than 1,500 members of the public have registered on to the programme. The programme includes:-

• Information on existing local weight management services
• Interactive peer support and motivational online programme
• Advice for businesses wanting to support employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle and lose weight
• Monitoring of weight and BMI through the programme
• Rewards for keeping to the programme

The online programme has been designed to act as a support mechanism and empower people in Hull who want to take control of their weight.

Accessible from any PC with an internet connection at any time of day or night, the programme engages people of all ages, gender and lifestyles and appeals to a diverse and traditionally hard to reach audience.

The online programme is financially competitive when compared to existing service delivery methods and has been developed to adhere to national guidelines and in association with City Health Care Partnership (CHCP), Hull.

Ready to Lose Weight for Business

Businesses within the region can also adopt the programme as part of their corporate health and wellbeing at work strategy to encourage their employees to improve their lifestyles.

The Outcome

The Ready to Lose Weight online programme has four main components:-

• Weight management recording and monitoring
• Activity programme and tools
• Inspirational messaging
• Online rewards

The commissioning NHS team are extremely pleased with the key performance indicators to date i.e. Within six months from launch, the online programme registered a weight loss of over 4000lbs approximately 285 stone.

CHCP are monitoring an impressive increase in weight loss and seeing online activity develop with the addition of new members, on a daily basis.

Offering an award standard online programme of this nature enables CHCP to provide reliable weight management information to everyone within the region, on a free of charge basis.

Further Information

Press Release - Dipping the Scales
Press Release - Love your Scales
City Health Care Partnership - "Innovation in Health" Award
www.readytoloseweight.co.uk
Web Applications