Isle of Wight residents looking to shed a few pounds ahead of Christmas are being offered 12 weeks of Slimming World absolutely free.
The council-funded offer, available through gloji Isle of Wight, gives eligible residents the chance to lose weight without having to splash the cash during one of the most expensive times of the year.
With Christmas just around the corner and household budgets already stretched, the scheme aims to help Islanders kick-start healthier habits without worrying about membership fees.
More than 1,800 Islanders have already signed up to Slimming World through gloji Isle of Wight, with almost 60% of those starting the programme managing to lose at least 5% of their body weight during the free 12-week period.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 21.9% of adults on the Isle of Wight are classified as obese.
Those who secure a free place can attend Slimming World group sessions and access thousands of healthy recipes, personalised weight loss advice, exercise videos and podcasts.
Jack Bennett, Head of Service for gloji Isle of Wight, has said:
“We’re very aware that the cost of living is tight, and the pressure to spend at Christmas will only make it tighter. That’s why these funded places matter. They give people who want to lose weight, or simply keep their weight in check, free support to build healthy habits, without adding to the financial worry at what’s already an expensive time of year.”
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The free places are funded by the Isle of Wight Council, but numbers are limited.
Eligibility depends on factors including where applicants live or work and their Body Mass Index (BMI).
Islanders wanting to take advantage of the offer can check their eligibility and sign up at iow.gloji.org.uk/slimming-world.
