Healthy weight

A healthy lifestyle gives you more energy and reduces the risk of illness.

Eating well

Weight management service

Advice for families

During pregnancy, the early years and childhood.

Eating well

NHS food and diet information – how to maintain a balanced diet and nutrition of different foods.
The Eatwell Guide - advice from the NHS on to how to make balanced meals.
British Heart Foundation’s heart-healthy recipe finder – search by cooking time, cuisine and dietary requirements.

Support accessing food (including food banks)

To find food banks and other local services in your area:

visit your local Healthy Hub
contact Citizens Advice or Herts Help.

Financial support for families
Including free school meals and free food, milk and vitamins from the Healthy Start scheme.

Weight management service

If you're 18 years or above and registered with a Hertfordshire GP you can refer yourself to one of our weight management programmes.

When you join, you can expect:

Free support to help you maintain a healthy weight
Individual sessions with your dedicated health advisors
A personalised healthy eating and exercise plan
Regular weight checks
Access to a digital learning platform.

Refer yourself to a weight management programme

Check you're eligible for one of our programmes:

My Healthy Weight

You're eligible for the 14-week programme if you have:

a BMI ≥ 30, or
a BMI ≥ 27.5 (for ethnic minority communities and individuals with long term health conditions).
not previously paid to attend My Healthy Weight sessions in the last 3 months
not attended and completed a free course in the past 12 months (e.g. National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP), Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP), Shape Up, Weight Watchers, Oviva or Slimming World).

My Healthy Weight Plus +

You're eligible for a year of support if you have:

a BMI ≥ 30, plus new on-set Type 2 Diabetes and a completed Tier 2 course or Type 2 Diabetes path to remission programme, or
a BMI ≥ 35 (for individuals with long term health conditions such as, but not limited to, Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes).

My Healthy Pregnancy

LYB Gain healthier weight You're eligible for a year of support if you:

are pregnant, or plan to be pregnant
have a BMI ≥40, or
have a BMI ≥37.5 (for ethnic minority communities and individuals with one or more long term health conditions).

Why a healthy weight matters during pregnancy >

Try self-help weight management

The NHS 12 week weight loss guide includes a meal plan and a schedule to help you track your food and exercise.

British Heart Foundation - take control of your weight - top tips for successful weight loss, simple food swaps and how to stay active after a heart event.

Advice for families

Pregnancy and the early years

NHS - healthy diet during pregnancy – including information on supplements, foods to avoid, and the Healthy Start card and free vitamins.
Start4Life – healthy eating advice from pregnancy until your child's second birthday.
Breastfeeding - reasons to do it if you can - along with meeting all your baby’s nutritional needs, breastfeeding helps you lose pregnancy weight by burning calories to make milk. If you’re worried about breastfeeding in public, hear from Hertfordshire mums (5mins).

Children and families

Change 4 Life – help your child maintain a healthy weight and stay active.
Beezee Families – a free programme to help the whole family maintain a healthy weight.
Food facts – find out what’s in the food your family eats.

Worried about your child?

If you are concerned that your child is underweight, showing signs of an eating disorder or needs body image support:

Speak to your GP
Contact Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
First Steps ED offer 'Skills for Carers' workshops.
The Living Room offers free group counselling.

NHS Weight Loss Plan

A 12-week plan to help you lose weight.

Active 10 app

Build up your daily walks – start with 10 minutes every day!

Easy Meals app

Meal ideas, recipes, cooking tips.

Food Scanner app

Find out what's really in your food and drink.

See all NHS health apps including BMI calculator and Couch to 5k app.

Information for professionals

Healthy weight

Eating well

Support accessing food (including food banks)

Weight management service

My Healthy Weight

My Healthy Weight Plus +

My Healthy Pregnancy

Try self-help weight management

Advice for families

Pregnancy and the early years

Children and families

Worried about your child?

NHS Weight Loss Plan

Active 10 app

Easy Meals app

Food Scanner app

Rate this page