With research further stating the number of people developing diabetes due to being overweight is set to double over the next two decades, and the number of adults and teenagers with diabetes more than doubling in the last 20 years, it’s clear that something must be done. Already, the NHS spends over £1.2 million per hour on diabetes care alone. In light of this recent research, it’s never been more apparent to look for opportunities to help tackle the problem at hand, finding a sustainable solution for those who wish to lose weight.
OurPath is a NHS backed platform dedicated to sustainable weight loss and lifestyle change.
The app was created by co-founders, Chris Edson and Mike Gibbs, advisors to the NHS as a way to tackle the increasing number of serious and life-threatening, preventable diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes.
The weight loss app hopes to tackle the diabetes epidemic and help save the NHS.
Using the latest scientific research in nutrition and behavioural psychology to make the change as simple as possible, OurPath uses cognitive behavioural therapy as a means to weight loss, guiding individuals towards a personal, attainable goal, and one that is aligned to the values they have set out.
This digital platform aims to promote healthy lifestyle’s and behavioural changes to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
The evidence supporting the effectiveness of CBT is strong, particularly those who find themselves with binge-eating behaviours.
Combined with a weight loss programme, CBT has been shown to be 5-10 per cent more effective than traditional dieting, helping people reach their goals through a simple shift in mindset.
Drawing on the latest scientific research in nutrition and behavioural psychology, OurPath aims to make the process as sustainable as possible.
Mike Gibbs, founder of OurPath said: “We started OurPath to try and make a real dent in the number of people living with type 2 diabetes, and to help reduce the amount of money spent by the NHS on managing lifestyle diseases.
Our goal now is to try and be the solution to anybody looking to make long-term healthy lifestyle changes, and lose weight without partaking in the unsustainable nature of fad diets.”
The app works by assigning a person with their own personal mentor and qualified nutritionist or registered dietician. Advice and 24-hour support throughout the three month plan is available.
Mentors will teach users how to eat fully rounded, nutritionally rich meals without obsessively counting calories or cutting out whole food groups and encourage permanent lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
“For people living with type 2 diabetes, our goal is to help them to move into diabetes remission, where possible, or into a state where they can healthily manage their condition for the long term.
“For others, we aim to help them make positive changes to the lifestyle habits so that they can keep the weight off for good, and break the cycle of oscillating weight loss and weight gain that is commonly seen when counting calories and doing short-term diets.”
OurPath is one of the first digital habit-change programmes commissioned by the NHS for people living with type 2 diabetes.
