Can new 'distance diet' help the obese?

With some 45 per cent of Britain’s population now classed as ‘obese’, there are many of us who would like to shed some pounds and become both slimmer and healthier.

In addition, obesity has been shown to increase the risks of contracting a range of conditions including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer and sleep apnoea - a respiratory disorder in which breathing is made more difficult by excessive body fat around the neck or on the chest.

This excess body fat constricts the airway and, sometimes, the lungs, causing short interruptions in breathing during the night.

Those who are obese and who want – or need – to lose a significant amount of weight in a relatively short time are finding a very low calorie diet (VLCD) to be an effective way of achieving their goal.

Traditionally, VLCD providers insist on their users not only changing their lifestyle but also meeting other VLCD users on a regular basis.

Penelope Howard, an expert in the field of obesity and head of the VLCD provider, Howard’s Way, explained: “We recognised that this may not suit everyone – and, more importantly, that this means that people can only embark on a VLCD if there are others in their locality who also want to go on a VLCD. So we launched an alternative, ‘distance’ dieting service – which is proving to be very successful.”

Using Howard’s Way’s ‘distance dieting’ service, anyone, anywhere can order the specially formulated Howard’s Way VLCD foods – and, once the status of their health has been confirmed, they are ready to start the diet.

Moreover, Howard’s Way staff keep in contact with each dieter by telephone and are available ’24-7’. Email support is also available.

“With the current increase in the numbers of obese people in Britain, we feel that it is important to offer this extra service, in addition to our traditional, local group, meetings-based approach,” Penelope added.

“With those on the Howard’s Way diet losing, typically, some three stones plus in the first 12 weeks and roughly a stone or more every four weeks thereafter, we believe that the ‘distance dieter’ approach could offer a valuable service to those who are – or feel – isolated and yet are keen to lose weight.”

For more information visit Howardsway.co.uk.