Support for pregnant women and new mums during National Obesity Awareness Week
FRIDAY, 9 JANUARY 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Support for pregnant women and new mums during National Obesity Awareness Week
NHS Tayside is supporting National Obesity Awareness Week (12-18 January) with help available for pregnant women and new mums.
Recent figures from the Scottish Government show that 64.6% of adults in Scotland are overweight or obese and that women in Scotland are more likely to be obese than in any of the other UK nations.
In order to support women to manage their weight, in 2010, NHS Tayside introduced optiMum, a weight management in pregnancy service for obese women. This service is now being rolled out across Tayside with every pregnant woman with a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater being supported by their midwife to manage their weight gain during pregnancy.
Carol Barnett, Maternal and Infant Nutrition Programme Manager said, “Pregnancy is not a time to diet but, by preventing excessive weight gain, the risks of developing complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be limited.
“We want to help and support women to be more proactive about losing weight once they have had their baby. NHS Tayside is now working in partnership with Weight Watchers and can offer women who have had a baby in the last year access to local Weight Watchers classes for 12 weeks for free.”
To find out if you are eligible, phone Weight Watchers on 0845 602 7068 and quote WWRS073.
Contact:
Gaynyr Dickson
NHS Tayside Communications
01382 740716
