Help with weight management

More than two-thirds of adults in Norfolk are classed as overweight or obese. Being obese can impact on your physical and mental health.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has found strong evidence you could also be at greater risk of developing one or more long-term health conditions. These include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Developing certain types of cancer
• Worse symptoms and impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Those from a Black, Asian or other minority ethnic group who are overweight are at even higher risk of developing some long-term (chronic) conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.

Support options

To help you on your journey to reaching a healthier weight, we have commissioned the following weight management services. Please note that online sessions are not available as part of the Norfolk County Council funded scheme. Please scroll down towards the bottom of this page for other options

Slimming world

Slimming World offers free weekly in-person group support sessions over 12 weeks. These will help you make gradual changes towards a healthy lifestyle.

As a member, you choose the target weight that you feel happy with. You're motivated and encouraged to share experiences, recipes and ideas with your fellow members in a warm, supportive environment.

Groups are available in many local community venues across Norfolk. Search for a group in Norfolk on the Slimming World website.

Your Health Norfolk

Your Health Norfolk offer free in-person group support nutrition sessions, and exercise and nutrition sessions.

The nutrition sessions are held by qualified nutritionists who will teach you the fundamentals of a healthy balanced diet. Over the 10 weeks, your nutritionist will cover set topics to help you follow a healthy, well-balanced diet and give you educational tools to ensure you succeed in your weight loss journey.

The group exercise sessions are circuit-based classes delivered by a specialist team of exercise professionals to support you to become and remain physically active. The 10 week programme can support individuals with existing health conditions and will help you to increase your knowledge, skills and confidence in keeping active and moving more. Along side the exercise sessions, your nutritionist will cover set topics to help you follow a healthy, well-balanced diet and give you educational tools to ensure you succeed in your weight loss journey.

Find out more about adult weight management sessions from Your Health Norfolk.

Apply for the free weight management support

If you'd like to apply for the free support, you'll need to fill in our referral form.

Measure your height and weight and have those measurements to hand when you fill in the form. You'll need to provide these so we can calculate your BMI.

To be eligible for the free support you must be:

• Aged 18 or above
• Have a BMI of 30 or above or, if you are Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic group, a BMI of 27.5 or above. The BMI is lower due to the higher risk of poor health
• A Norfolk resident, or be registered with a Norfolk GP practice.

You will not be eligible if:

• You're currently pregnant
• You have attended one of our funded weight management services in the past 12 months
• You have been a paying member of Slimming World or Your Health Norfolk (weight management sessions) in the past three months

Start the form

If you're having problems with the form, or need help to complete it, call our customer service team on 0344 800 8006. You can also use our enquiry form.

For information on help available for transport, visit: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/helpwithtransport

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.

It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access.

Options if you're not eligible for these services 

Ready to Change: Step-by-step advice on creating a health improvement plan to help you lose weight. It also has advice on how to keep yourself healthy and active.

Just One Norfolk: If you're pregnant, or want information about healthy lifestyle support for children and young people. 

NHS Better Health: Whether you want to lose weight, get active or quit smoking, Better Health is here with lots of free tools and support

Your Health Norfolk: Offers private funding options for nutrition sessions, exercise sessions, and combined nutrition and exercise sessions.

Slimming World: Provides varying membership options including digital online membership.

Healthy Weight Service for children and young people

Look after your health and grow into a healthy weight with Gro Health, Norfolk's healthy weight service for young people. Learn all about healthy eating and getting active, and get support with managing mental health and sleep, to help young people move towards a healthy weight.

Gro Health is available as a digital and face-to-face support programme so you can get support in the way that works best for you!

To register your interest for Gro Health, visit the Gro Health website or call us on 0330 133 0307