Choose to Change - IMPaCt RePoRtSix years of supporting people to lead healthier lifestyles

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Established since 2009, ABL delivers a variety of different

services - everything from weight management, wellness

and physical activity, smoking cessation and counselling in

schools - in partnership with public sector commissioners.

ABL, which stands for A Better Life, encourages people to

be ‘active participants’ in the healthcare system and works

to create a culture where people think and talk proactively

about their health.

The organisation employs qualified and experienced

lifestyle coaches, nutritionists and psychologists, ensuring

its professional and clinical expertise is second to none.

ABL Health is committed to making long-term changes to

the lives of its clients - no quick fixes!

aBL health is a gP-led organisation changing the lives of people across the north of england. the team is passionate about tackling health inequalities through its innovative community healthcare programmes.

ABL Health:Making health matter

Did you know obesity and being overweight leads to

a wide range of health problems costing the nhs

over £5billion every year

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This pioneering programme has reached almost

10,000 people across the region since 2011 and we’ve

seen some fantastic achievements from our clients

during this time.

All those who made positive changes to their lives with

the support of the service should be extremely proud of

yourselves – you are amazing!

We’re really pleased to be able to work with so many great

commissioners and clients in Greater Manchester and look

forward to continuing to play our part in promoting lifelong

change and helping people live healthier lives across the

region.

DEniSE LESLiE Chief Executive

I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to make a difference to the lives of so many people in greater Manchester over the past six years through our Choose to Change service.

A message from ABL’s Chief Executive

99% of clients report staff treat them with consideration and respect

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We’re in your community• WeattendeventsacrossGreaterManchestertopromote

the service and raise awareness of the importance of a

healthy lifestyle.

• Our12-monthprogrammerunsfortnightlysessionsfrom

venues right in the heart of communities.

• WedeliverRaisingTheIssueofWeightTrainingtohealth

professionals across Greater Manchester. The course

covers the effects of obesity and being overweight,

understanding the barriers – and solutions – to weight

loss, and how to identify and measure obesity in children

and adults. it also teaches the skills health professionals

require to sensitively raise the issue of weight.

since 2011, we have reached almost 10,000 people

“here is a picture of me at 24 stone and this is an

update of me now.

a year ago I couldn’t do two steps. My diabetes

was so bad that I had to be taken to the doctors as

my legs were so swollen. I used to come home from work and I’d get

on the settee and that was it for the night.

now I don’t want to be sat down in the house at all.

I’m 57 and I feel great.”

Joe

“the sessions were easy to follow, friendly, and the exercise was relevant to everyone.”

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Choose to Change clients are offered up to 12 months of specialist lifestyle and weight management support. the programme helps individuals to make realistic and long term lifestyle changes to lose weight and improve their health. this could be in the form of 1 to 1 or group lifestyle and/or psychological therapy sessions. the programme provides intensive support for 6 months and a further 6 months follow on support to encourage maintenance of healthy changes.

We help men and women to get more active and make healthier food choices

All our clients benefit from:

• Apersonalisedassessmentoflifestyle,behavioural

and medical support needs

• Regularsupportandweighinsessions

• Fortnightlynutrition,physicalactivityandbehaviour

change sessions

• Regularbloodpressureandwaistcircumferencechecks

• Additionalsupportfromarangeofspecialistsinweight

management including GPs, psychological therapists,

exercise and nutrition specialists

• Additionalpsychologicaltherapyinterventions

• Personalgoalsettingateachsession

• Linksintolocalcommunityassetstoencourage

sustainable lifestyle changes

Choose to Change clients have lost a total of 14,676cm in waist circumference - that’s the perimeter of two old trafford football pitches!

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“Before i began to change my lifestyle, i didn’t have a meal routine, i drank full fat fizzy drinks and i did little exercise. By setting smart goals with my lifestyle coach, i was able to take the first step to becoming healthy. The first changes i made were small and, to my surprise, i lost weight which spurred me on to make further changes. now i am 34kgs lighter. i plan every meal and cook from scratch, i attend two exercise classes per week, walk my dog for 40 minutes per day during the week and up this to two hours at the weekend. i’ve even roped my husband into playing badminton! i cannot wait to see what else i can achieve. i feel great.”

Clients get motivational support from a range of specialists and clients who have been through the service and choose to volunteer as peer supporters. Marie empowers new service users as part of our peer supporter scheme and attends sessions to motivate others with her amazing story.

Choose to Change is about empowerment

We employ local people from the greater Manchester area and are committed to

developing our volunteers, many of who go on to become full time members of staff.

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steve used to keep active at work as a football coach, but due to health conditions was forced into early retirement.

We get results!Steve’s story

Choose to Change clients have lost an

amazing total of over 26,000kg since 2011.

that’s the equivalent weight of six bulldozers!

steve lost 25% of his

body weight

Since joining Choose to Change, Steve has quit smoking,

stopped drinking and has started walking regularly with his

wife. He uses a smaller plate to control his portion sizes and

reads food labels to ensure he chooses the healthy option.

The improvement in his physical and mental wellbeing is

‘immeasurable’ and his enjoyment of life has increased

from 1 to 10. He can now walk and stand for longer periods

of time and has started going to football matches again.

Steve has reduced his body weight by more than a quarter,

taking his BMi from 40.26 to 29.76. He is much stronger

and more confident in himself.

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The benefits of losing 5% of your weight include:

• Reducedblood pressure• Reducedmedication• Decreasedcholesterol• Reductioninpain• Lessbreathlessness• Reductioninblood sugar• Bettercontrolof diabetes

the average weight loss of Choose to Change clients is 5.2%

78% of clients who engage on the service achieve three

or more positive lifestyle changes such as:

-Reductioninbloodpressure

-Reductioninweightandwaistcircumference

- increased physical activity

- improved nutrition intake

- increased confidence

-Reducedanxiety/depression/psychologicaldistress

• 48%ofclientsachievea5%plusweightloss

• 59%ofclientsreducetheirwaistcircumference

• 48%ofclientsexperienceareductioninbloodpressure

• 80%ofclientsexperienceimprovedpsychologicalwell

being

the aim of the Choose to Change service is to support and empower individuals to make long term healthy lifestyle changes to support their weight management. as they journey through the programme, clients experience many positive lifestyle changes alongside weight loss.

Ourresults

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Shelley’s story

Surgery can help improve a number of clinical conditions,

particularly diabetes, and is known to increase life

expectancy.Ourroleistoensurethatclientswhoare

eligible are educated on both the positive outcomes and

potential implications of surgery.

We support clients over 12 months to learn how to manage

their weight through positive lifestyle, nutrition, physical

activity and behaviour changes as this will support surgery

being successful long-term.

A client said:

“i joined the Choose to Change

programme to pursue weight loss surgery. i was supported

to set myself realistic goals to change my eating patterns

and activity routines. Being more active, combined with

small changes to my meals and eating behaviours, helped

me make big changes and my weight steadily reduced.

As a result i was referred for surgery and i am now steadily

losing more weight and managing my diabetes.”

We recognise that bariatric surgery is clinically beneficial for certain clients where all other avenues of weight loss have been exhausted.

We are the gatekeeper for bariatric surgery Many clients do extremely well during the

programme and, as a result, decide they no longer feel surgery is necessary for them!

over 6 years we have referred a total of 194

clients for surgery. this equates to only

15% of those who are eligible.

“i started Choose to Change in January 2017. i wasn’t sure that it would work for me as every other weight reduction i’d tried over the past 40 years hadn’t worked. i went in to this wanting to lose weight fast and i wanted weight loss surgery - my mind was made up.

i followed the programme religiously with my life-saving food diary. As each week passed, i was feeling more positive. i did a little more exercise each day. Even when i couldn’t get out of the chair i found the latex band that my lifestyle coach gave me helped massively.

i love the groups as they give everyone a chance to speak about anything, for example the barriers that hinder our progress, and they help us to build new friendships and support each other.

nine months in to my programme, my view about surgery has changed. i no longer have this desire. i have lost 10% of my body weight and feel i have been given the tools to carry on with my lifestyle changes. i’m over the moon i’m heading in the right direction thanks to all at Choose to Change.

it works if you work it – so work it, you’re worth it!” SHELLEy

Ourclientsbenefitfrom:

• Apersonalisedassessmentoflifestyle,behaviouraland

medical support needs

• Toptipsforahealthypregnancyandtodispelanyfood

myths

• Guidanceonfoodstoavoidduringpregnancy

• Toolstodealwithcravings

• Additionalpsychologicaltherapyinterventions

• Adviseonnutritioninrelationtobreastfeeding

and complementary feeding

it’s been great to sit and share ideas with other pregnant ladies. GRAce

it’s been a big reality check, something i needed to do for me but also for my baby. STACEy

Choose to Change offers a maternity weight management programme for women who have a BMI of 30 and are pregnant. our programme offers advice and support on nutrition, lifestyle and behaviour change to keep women healthy throughout their pregnancy and beyond.

We support women through pregnancy

80% of clients who have engaged have improved

their psychological wellbeing

of maternity clients achieve weight loss

or maintenance

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our clients are applauded for their positive lifestyle and weight loss achievements.

We recognise achievement

• Theyarepresentedwithcertificatestoreflecthealthy

lifestyle changes

• TheirstoriesaresharedonInstagramandFacebook

• Theyareinvitedtobepeersupportersonthe

programme

• TheyarenominatedforGreaterSport’sGreater

Manchester Sports Awards – over the past four years,

clients have been shortlisted in the finals for the local

awards and three clients made it to the regional finals in

the Changing Lifestyles category

• Theyarefeaturedinlocalandnationalpressandon

broadcastmedia.MarkGentfromOldhamwas

interviewed on BBC north West Tonight after losing

23 stone

AlexwonthechangingLifestyleRecognitionAwardat the Bury Sports Awards

JohnwontheregionalchangingLifestyleRecognitionAward at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards

12 months after participating in Choose to Change, 73% of clients who completed the programme had maintained or lost further weight

i love the group sessions, they are so

positive and encouraging i had fun and learnt lots

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In addition to our core programme, we offer our clients many added extras from Choose to Cook classes to further exercise sessions.

We add value for our clients

• Choose to Cook - free learn to cook sessions

• Extra exercise classes - additional bespoke exercise

sessions adapted for our clients to support their

confidence in being active

• Peer Supporter Scheme - we offer clients the

opportunity to volunteer, give back to their communities

and be a positive role model for others

• Training opportunities for clients and our volunteers

95% of clients would recommend

the service to friends and family

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Anthony completed the Choose to Change programme

and became a peer supporter. Anthony then went on to

gain employment with ABL Health working as a lifestyle

coach.

“i believe in the Choose to Change programme and i know

the impact it has had on me personally. i feel differently

about my weight and the way i approach life. i do things

now that i would never had done before because of the

confidence i have gained from the programme. i will always

be grateful to the lifestyle coaches who inspired me.”

our volunteers are an important part of the Choose to Change family and many of our former clients have gone on to share their stories and support others in making lifelong change.

Volunteering & employment

Greater Manchester Devolution has set out its priorities

for health and wellbeing and this programme contributes

to that. All the areas involved are committed to reducing

health inequalities, helping people to manage their health

and wellbeing including supporting people in losing weight

and being more active.

it’s inspiring to see so many positive stories coming from

the service, which is truly changing the lives of people

across the region.”

ROBeRTGReen

Public Health Manager

“We are proud to have the innovative Choose to Change programme carrying out this important work across greater Manchester.

Ourcommissioners

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

Do you want to lose weight and keep it off for good?

Fed up of dieting and want to learn how to manage your weight? Are you ready to make positive lifestyle changes to improve your health?If you feel ready, join our FREE weight management service Choose to Change...

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

1718

71

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

A specialist weight management and lifestyle service delivered by for people across Greater Manchester.

Contact the team today

01204 570 999 admin@ablhealth.co.uk ChooseToChange2 ChooseToChange2 @ABL Health www.ablhealth.co.uk

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

Do you want to lose weight and keep it off for good?

Fed up of dieting and want to learn how to manage your weight? Are you ready to make positive lifestyle changes to improve your health?If you feel ready, join our FREE weight management service Choose to Change...

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

1718

71

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

A specialist weight management and lifestyle service delivered by for people across Greater Manchester.

Contact the team today

01204 570 999 admin@ablhealth.co.uk ChooseToChange2 ChooseToChange2 @ABL Health www.ablhealth.co.uk

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

Do you want to lose weight and keep it off for good?

Fed up of dieting and want to learn how to manage your weight? Are you ready to make positive lifestyle changes to improve your health?If you feel ready, join our FREE weight management service Choose to Change...

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

1718

71

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

A specialist weight management and lifestyle service delivered by for people across Greater Manchester.

Contact the team today

01204 570 999 admin@ablhealth.co.uk ChooseToChange2 ChooseToChange2 @ABL Health www.ablhealth.co.uk

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

“I feel great and haveso much more energy now. I can't wait to see what elseI can achieve.”

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

- Marie

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

“I feel great and haveso much more energy now. I can't wait to see what elseI can achieve.”

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

- Marie

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

“I feel great and haveso much more energy now. I can't wait to see what elseI can achieve.”

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

- Marie

“This is a fantastic programme if I can do it anyone can. The classes are fun and you learn so much!.”- Giovanna

“I feel great and haveso much more energy now. I can't wait to see what elseI can achieve.”

“You can’t do it with a quick fix; I’ve got my head around this being

for life, A year ago I couldn’t do two steps. but now I don’t want to be sat down. ”

- Joe

“It doesn’t feel like a

diet, it feels like a change in

my lifestyle. I’m doing it

differently now and I’m

enjoying losing weight.”

- Robyn

- Marie