Health and Lifestyle Opportunities (HALO) - Weight Management Programme
Milton Keynes General Hospital runs a Health and Lifestyle Opportunities (HALO) group for adults who want to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Individuals referred to the dietetic department for weight management advice will now be offered a place on this 12-week structured course run by community Dietitians.This is a unique, evidence-based obesity management service run by qualified health professionals.
Referrals for this group require screening and the completion of a specific referral form, which is attached.
Aims of the course
The main aim of the course is to focus on lifestyle modification. The 5 main objectives for the participants on the HALO course are:
(1)To increase the awareness and importance of healthy lifestyles and weight management
(2)To sustain a reduction in daily calorie intake by 500-1000kcal/day, which should result in a weight loss of 1-2lb (0.5-1 kg) per week
(3)To sign up to AMKERS with a view to meeting the Government recommendations for physical activity of 30 minutes, 5 days a week
(4)To lose 5-10% of baseline weight over the 12-week period, by modifying eating and activity habits
(5)To distribute evidence-based resources supporting weight management
Those identified as requiring dietetic input for weight management who do not feel comfortable in a group setting or who do not want to be selected for HALO will be offered a one-to-one appointment in the hospital setting. Those at risk who are not sufficiently motivated to change their lifestyle (‘pre-contemplators’) should be offered written information and re-screened 3 months later.
Course Structure
The course consists of six sessions, each lasting one hour, over 12 weeks and these are generally held at Milton Keynes Hospital. Participants are weighed and have their waist circumference measured at Week 1, Week 3 and Week 6, in order to track their progress. HALO is run by Community Dietitians and will adopt the following format:
WEEK 1 Introduction and discussion on the health benefits of weight loss – Target setting
WEEK 3 Healthy eating & the Eat Well plate model
WEEK 5 Role of physical activity in weight Management - Promotion of AMKERS
WEEK 7 Exploring eating behaviour & lifestyle changes
WEEK 9 Menu planning – 24-hour dietary recall analysis – Food labelling
WEEK12 Goal-setting and weight loss evaluation – Target-setting for the future- Patients issued course completion certificate
If you have an overweight patient and they are ready for a life-changing experience, then HALO may be the answer!
For further information on the HALO course, please contact the communityDietitians on01908 500095.