League of Fitness: peer-led weight management, self-care and wellbeing improvement programme

Newham is the least active borough in London, with only 9% of adults being classed as active. The area has higher than average obesity levels and high rates of diabetes.

A key priority for the borough is encouraging its population to be more active. Supporting and motivating people to change their behaviour and lifestyle will lead to improvements in health and wellbeing. There are existing community-based interventions that enable local residents to get involved in activities that promote wellbeing and social inclusion, but these need to be expanded.

This pilot project will engage a cohort of 130 male patients from Tollgate Medical Centre, identified through agreed criteria around body mass index and obesity levels. Patients will be invited to be part of an innovative team-based health programme: the League of Fitness.

Focused on a weight loss competition, teams will compete to lose the highest cumulative weight. Each team will be led by a trained and qualified captain, who will support and manage their team to increase their physical activity and make improvements in lifestyle choices.

The programme is designed to run remotely and will involve online support systems, resources and guides. It will use existing technological solutions to promote engagement, enhance community-based health care, and increase physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

League of Fitness offers physical and emotional benefits in a benign competitive environment. It aims to achieve better weight and conditions management for these patients, improve their sense of purpose, widen their social networks, build their resilience and boost their confidence.

Contact details

For further information about this project, please email Mavis Wenham, Chair of the Tollgate Medical Centre Patient Participation Group.