Preston North End Community and Education Trust [PNECET] is delighted to announce a new partnership with Places Gym Preston in Bamber Bridge, which will benefit participants on the Weight Management programme.
The Weight Management programme aims to halt the continued rise in unhealthy weight prevalence in adults and reverse that trend.
The service consists of an evidence-based, accessible tier two weight management service for adults aged 18 and over, supporting people with a Body Mass Index [BMI] between 30 and 39.9 to lose weight, maintain their weight loss, and improve their knowledge and skills.
PNECET staff offer advice and motivation in relation to diet and behaviour change, promoting increased physical activity while forming an integral part of the NHS health checks care pathway and wider obesity pathways.
An estimated 16 per cent of adults within the Preston City Council boundary are obese, with 59.8 per cent of those being overweight; equivalent to more than 84,000 people.
The new partnership will see PNECET utilise Places Gym facilities and equipment, enabling participants to get even fitter and lose even more weight.
Grace Birtwell, Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator at PNECET, said: “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Places Gym Preston to deliver our 12-week Weight Management provision in their facility and we’re looking forward to seeing all the benefits that it will bring to our Weight Management participants.
“Our team are experts in supporting individuals to lead healthier lives. Our Weight Management programme encourages lifelong changes to eating habits, helps encourage people to overcome barriers to weight loss, make sensible food choices and become more active.
“We believe that by providing the correct tools and environment for our participants, we will increase independence and self-determination, empowering individuals to make positive changes.
“We look forward to what this partnership will bring in the future and hope that it will be a lasting partnership to provide Weight Management provision to those in the Preston area.”
Murray MacLennan, Healthy Communities Manager at Places Gym Preston, said: “We’re extending operations from Central Preston to South Preston, so we’ve got a larger catchment area and together we can help a larger percentage of the community and everyone is inclusive within that.
“There was nothing in this area, Weight Management wise, so we were looking for an active partnership and we felt that PNECET was exactly the right fit.
“We’ve got a wide range of facilities and equipment at Places Gym Preston, which benefit the participants in a variety of ways. For example, if we’re running typical circuit training, then our specialist machines can be used in a safe way by disabled participants to ensure everyone is able to take part.”
Pat, a Weight Management participant, has already been reaping the benefits of participating in the sessions.
“I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it,” she says. “I was referred by my GP, as I have COPD and they referred me over in my annual review.
“What I enjoy most is the moving and the interaction with people. I think everyone should do it and I’m not sure why I didn’t do it years ago. You’ve got nothing to lose!
“My aim is to lose weight, get fitter and keep moving.
“Grace and the staff have been fabulous, she explains everything very easily and if you’ve got a question or a worry you can always go to her and the team.”
To access the Places Gym Preston website, please click here.
For more information and to sign up to our Weight Management provision, please click here or email grace.birtwell@pne.com.