Welcome

Birmingham City Council has commissioned Momenta to deliver free weight management services for residents aged 55 and over.  

If you are not aged 55 or over, we suggest you visit the Council website to see if you qualify for any of their other services. 

Being above a health weight puts you at increased risk of a number of conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, heart and circulatory diseases, many cancers and sleep apnoea.  The Birmingham Weight Management programmes are designed to support you to get all the knowledge, skills and tools you need to better manage your weight and get fitter, healthier and happier.

Results show the programme can help people lose weight, become more active, eat healthier and improve their wellbeing - all while having fun.

After registration and an individual assessment by phone you'll attend a Getting started group. This 90-minute foundation session will give you the opportunity to experience the programme without committing to the full 12 weeks.  You'll almost certainly learn something new - and we'll send you a handy booklet in advance so you've got a reminder to keep even if you don't continue.  At the end you can decide if you want to sign up for the full programme.

We then sign you up to the most convenient group of 12 weekly one-hour sessions available.  Each session focuses on a new topic about nutrition, physical activity* or behaviour change that can help you with changing your lifestyle.  You'll have time to discuss these topics with other people and think about how to put them into practice in your own life. 

Groups are for 15-20 people.  You'll be given a range of high quality resources including more extensive Workbook, a Lifestyle logbook and 12-months' free access to a physical activity app. 

*There is no actual activity in the sessions 

To be eligible you must be a Birmingham City Council resident and meet the following criteria:

• Be over 55 years old
• Have a BMI over 25 (or over 23 if you are of Black African, African-Caribbean or Asian origin).  To check your BMI click here
• Able to undertake moderate intensity physical activity - if in doubt consult your GP
• Willing and able to attend a group programme over 12 weeks.

You also need to make sure you do NOT meet any of the following exclusion criteria: 

• Have had bariatric surgery in the last two years
• Have a significant unmanaged comorbidity (e.g. Type 2 diabetes      without regular reviews)
• Have a diagnosed eating disorder
• Have been assessed as moderately or severely frail – or be on your GP’s Frailty register
• Be pregnant or planning pregnancy (weight loss is not recommended).

If you meet any of these exclusion criteria you should discuss more appropriate services with your GP practice - or visit the Council website for more information on other services.  

This kind of programme might not be acceptable to or helpful for everyone above a healthy weight who meets the criteria above. It's important for you to think carefully about whether this is the right type of support and the right time for you to take part.  For example: Is managing your weight important to you at this point in your life?  Does a group format appeal?  Can you attend over Zoom for now? Can you commit to attending 12 weekly sessions?

It's also important for others as there are only a limited number of free places available.