Healthy Weight Pathways
The main aim of this project was to ensure that obesity services and pathways in City & Hackney have a focus on inequalities. We aimed to improve access to and better integrate our local obesity care pathways to address stubborn inequalities and improve outcomes for high-risk populations.
What we did
From October 2024 to March 2025, we help 5 workshops with health and care colleagues, VCSE partners, and residents to develop change ideas to address our aim. During the workshops, we decided together how to focus the work of the Healthy Weight programme area: we prioritised four groups and developed four project priorities.
Working with stakeholders and residents we prioritised the following groups:
1) Adults with learning disabilities
2) Adults with multiple health conditions
3) Children living in deprived areas
4) People thinking about becoming pregnant / pregnant people / new mums
We were interested in projects that focused on one of the four priorities:
1) Projects that increase awareness of and/or improve access to information about healthy eating and/or physical activity for people from priority groups.
2) Projects that are tailored or targeted interventions to support people from priority groups to adopt and maintain healthier habits related to diet and physical activity.
3) Projects that help to increase the knowledge, skills, and confidence of people working with priority groups about how to eat healthily and/or be more active.
4) Projects that involve delivering activities (including those described under priorities 1-3) in community locations and/or settings used and trusted by priority groups or focus on increasing peer or social support around healthy eating and physical activity.
The MATCH Healthy Weight projects
Table Talk by Achieved Dreams (www.achieveddreams.org)
Table Talk is a weekly 2-hour cooking and conversation programme for 40 young people aged 11-18 years living in deprived areas of Hackney. Led by a youth nutritionist and mentors, sessions combine hands on cooking of affordable, nutritious meals with shared discussions about healthy eating, wellbeing, and body image. Participants also receive take home meal kits, reflective activities, and weekly check ins to reinforce skills, involve families, and support lasting positive change.
Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives by Shepherd Fold Ministry (www.shepherdfoldministries.co.uk)
Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives will deliver a 38-week programme for 140 new and expectant mothers, as well as for women planning pregnancy, to tackle obesity and improve healthy lifestyles. Activities include 19 nutrition workshops, 19 practical cooking classes, and 38 weekly physical activity sessions, supported bny monthly one-to-one dietitian advice and tailored action plans. Peer support networks will be set up to help participants share experiences and sustain lifestyle changes. The programme combines education, practical skills, and emotional support to address health inequalities and empower women to live healthier lives.
Women, Weights, and Wellness by STUK Change CIC (www.stukcic.co.uk)
The Women, Weights, and Wellness project will deliver a 20-week programme for women with multiple health conditions. Twice weekly 90-minute sessions combine structured physical activity with practical education on nutrition, stress, sleep, and emotional wellbeing. Participants’ progress is measured through health assessments at the start, middle, and end of the programme, while peer support and access to practitioners will help sustain lifestyle changes. Alongside in-person delivery, digital resources such as videos and articles will extend reach and provide ongoing support.
Healthy Me by The Huddleston Centre (www.huddlestoncentre.org.uk)
The Healthy Me project will run healthy eating workshops, adapted exercise sessions, peer support groups, and information days for 20 disabled young people with learning disabilities and their parents/carers. Activities will be delivered in an accessible community centre with free transport provided, ensuring families can take part. The project will increase knowledge, confidence, and access to healthy eating and physical activity, while connecting families to longer-term social support.
If you have any questions please email phh@cityandhackneyph.hackney.gov.uk