PEOPLE in Great Yarmouth and Waveney are being encouraged to take the first steps to a healthier life by making the most of a fun, free and effective weight management course.

PEOPLE in Great Yarmouth and Waveney are being encouraged to take the first steps to a healthier life by making the most of a fun, free and effective weight management course.

The ten-week LIFE programme, which stands for Lifestyle, Improvement, Food Exercise, will be running at venues across the area, with courses starting during March and April. Open to anybody aged 18 and over and who is above their ideal weight, LIFE will teach people the basic principles of healthy eating, show them the benefits of exercise and explain the links between food and mood.

As part of the programme, run by Great Yarmouth Community Trust's Nutrition Team, people will be given the chance to take part in cooking sessions and complete specially tailored gym programmes. They'll also try a variety of other moderate intensity exercises, such as aerobics, guided walks and circuits, during special taster sessions designed to help them identify an activity they enjoy and will continue into the future.

“It is important to stress that the LIFE programme isn't a diet, but instead aims to show people that small changes can make a big difference to their all round health and wellbeing,” said Eve Harrison, community nutrition team leader.

“During the course, we arrange a variety of fun and informative activities, including cooking sessions, exercise and healthy eating discussions. We also give those taking part lots of useful tips, such as how to eat healthily on a budget, which snacks will help keep them full for longer and how to cope with emotional eating.

“The exercise taster sessions are also great as they give people the chance to try activities they might not have considered before. Hopefully everyone will find something they enjoy and keep it up in the future.”

Anyone interested in taking part should contact the Community Nutrition Team on 01493 852200, who can then advise you of will then organise suitable venues and dates depending on demand.

Great Yarmouth Community Trust, which is funded by NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney to run LIFE programmes, also runs a programme specifically aimed at people with type 2 diabetes. Anyone who wants to find out more should contact the Community Nutrition Team.