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There are a range of services, programmes and tools available to support you with managing your weight and improving your health.
The right option for you will depend on your BMI, any weight-related long-term conditions you have and the type of service you would prefer to access, such as digital or in-person support.
To find out which services may be available to you, start by checking your BMI below.
⚖️ Check your BMI
Body Mass Index (BMI) can help you understand whether you are a healthy weight for your height.
Check your BMI using the NHS BMI calculator
For most adults:
- A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight
- A BMI of 30 or more is obese
If you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background, you're at risk of health problems with a slightly lower BMI:
- A BMI of 23 to 27.4 is overweight
- A BMI of 27.5 or higher is obese
The BMI calculator cannot tell the difference between muscle and fat. For example, if you have a lot of muscle, it's possible the BMI calculator may put you in the overweight or obese category even if you do not have a lot of body fat.
What are my options to support with weight loss?
Different services are available depending on your BMI and any weight-related long-term conditions you have.
Please read each section carefully. If you think you meet the eligibility criteria for a service and would like to be considered for it, complete the short request form within that section.
Your GP practice will review your information and where appropriate make a referral.
🏥 Adult Specialist Weight Management Service (Tier 3)
🟦Eligibility
BMI 50+
OR
BMI 35–49.9 with a diagnosed long-term condition that could be improved with weight loss.
View the full eligibility criteria and eligible conditions
About the service
Specialist weight management services provide tailored, intensive support for people with severe or complex obesity.
Support includes:
- Structured dietary, lifestyle and self-management support
- Psychologically-informed behaviour change
- Pharmacotherapy support for people meeting the eligibility criteria for weight loss medication
Interested in this service?
If you meet the eligibility criteria above and would like to be considered for this service, please complete our short request form.
Request Adult Specialist Weight Management Support
💊 Weight Loss Medications
🟦Eligibility
BMI 35–39.9 and diagnosed with 4 or more long-term or weight-related health conditions.
View the full eligibility criteria and eligible conditions
About this option
Weight loss medication may be available for people who meet the specific NHS eligibility criteria.
Interested in this service?
If you meet the eligibility criteria above and would like to be considered for this service, please complete our short request form.
Request consideration for Weight Loss Medication
📱 Digital Weight Management Programme
Referral via GP
🟦Eligibility
BMI 30 or more recorded within the last 24 months
(adjusted to 27.5 for people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds)
AND
A diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension, or both.
NHS staff with a BMI over 30 (27.5 for BAME groups) may also be eligible.
Find out more about the Digital Weight Management Programme for NHS Staff
About the service
A digital programme providing weight management support for eligible patients.
Interested in this service?
If you meet the eligibility criteria above and would like to be considered for this service, please complete our short request form.
Request Digital Weight Management Support
🩸 National Diabetes Prevention Programme
Referral via GP
🟦Eligibility
You may be eligible if you:
- Have been told you are pre-diabetic, with an HbA1c result between 42–47.9mmol/mol
- Are aged over 18
- Are registered with a GP in one of our locations
- Are not pregnant, unless you currently have Gestational Diabetes
- Are able to do light/moderate physical activity
- Have not previously been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
View the full eligibility criteria and eligible conditions
About the service
The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme provides support to help people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes make changes to their lifestyle and reduce their risk.
Interested in this service?
If you meet the eligibility criteria above and would like to be considered for this service, please complete our short request form.
Request Diabetes Prevention Support
💙 Diabetes Pathway to Remission Programme
Referral via GP
🟦Eligibility
BMI 27+ and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last 6 years.
Find out more about the Diabetes Pathway to Remission Programme
About the service
A free programme designed to help you reduce your diabetes medications, lose weight, improve your health, and potentially put your Type 2 diabetes into remission.
Interested in this service?
If you meet the eligibility criteria above and would like to be considered for this service, please complete our short request form.
Request Diabetes Pathway to Remission
💙 Health & Wellbeing Coaching
Support from your GP surgery
Who is this for?
Health & Wellbeing Coaching may be suitable if you are ready to make positive changes to your health and wellbeing and would like support to set goals and create an action plan.
📄 Read our Health Coaching Explained leaflet
What can we help with?
🥗 Weight & Diet
Healthy eating and managing your weight.
🏃 Exercise
Increasing or modifying physical activity and building strength.
😴 Sleep
Building helpful bedtime routines and breaking the cycle of anxiety around sleep.
🧠 Stress Management & Self-Care
Finding ways to better manage stress and other issues through self-help techniques.
🔄 Habits, Routine & Structure
Building helpful routines, structuring your day and developing positive new habits.
Whilst we are not experts, we help you find the information you need to make choices that work for YOU.
What's involved?
We will contact you for an initial assessment and, if coaching is agreed, book in an appointment. This could be telephone, face-to-face or video call.
Your coach will work with you to understand what matters to you, your lifestyle, your goals and any barriers to achieving these.
Together, you will create a Wellbeing Plan and may also be signposted to local services and community opportunities.
Future sessions give you time to talk about how you are getting on, discuss any setbacks or barriers and adjust your goals if needed.
Towards the end of your coaching, you'll review and reflect on your progress, create a Maintenance Plan and decide on your next steps.
Sessions are usually two weeks apart, decreasing in frequency towards the end. Usually up to six sessions is enough to get you to a point where you feel confident to continue your progress without us.
What we need from you
To get the most out of coaching, you need to be ready, willing & able to tackle change, open to trying new strategies, & committed to attending sessions.
Interested in this service?
If you would like to be considered for Health & Wellbeing Coaching, please complete our short request form.
Request Health & Wellbeing Coaching
Weight Loss Group Workshops
We also run Weight Loss Group Workshops.
View upcoming workshops and book your place.
🤔 Not sure which service is right for you?
Don't worry if you're unsure which option is most appropriate.
Your GP practice can refer you to the Weight Management Single Point of Access Team, who can help work out which option may be most suitable for you.
Find out more about the Weight Management Single Point of Access
Self Management Options
There are also free and discounted programmes, tools and apps that you can access yourself to support healthy lifestyle changes.
🌱 NHS Better Health
Helping you make healthy changes
Whether you want to lose weight, get active, quit smoking or drink less alcohol, Better Health is here to help.
Find practical tools and support, free apps and trusted advice to help you make changes that work for you.
🏷️ Discounted Weight Loss Programmes
NHS partnered discounted weight loss programmes are available, including:
- Slimming World
- Body Coach
- Man VS Fat
- and more
View available discounted weight loss programmes
📱 Helpful apps
Weight Management & Calorie Counting
NHS 12 Week Weight Loss Plan
Designed to help you lose weight.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
MyFitnessPal
Track your nutrition, calories, macros & fitness goals.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
Nutracheck
Achieve your health & weight goals with calorie tracking.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
Healthy Lifestyle Apps
🍎 NHS Food Scanner
Find healthier alternatives for you and your family.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
🍷 NHS Drink Free Days
Practical support to cut down on drinking.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
🚶 NHS Active 10
Health starts with small changes. Track and build up your activity.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
🥗 Yuka
Analyse your foods to check their impact on your health.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
🍽️ Freshwell
Low Carb Lifestyle for those with diabetes/prediabetes.
Download for Apple
Download for Android
📏 Waist-to-height ratio
Your waist-to-height ratio is another way of understanding whether you're carrying too much fat around your tummy.
If your BMI is under 35, you can use the NHS waist-to-height ratio calculator.
You should try to keep your waist size to less than half your height.
Check your waist-to-height ratio
Find out more about overweight and obesity
❤️ Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating
If you need support with emotional eating or an eating disorder, support is available.
Talkworks
Support with emotional eating.
BEAT
Eating Disorders Charity.