Transforming weight-loss services: voices from Southend-on-Sea

Obesity is now a global health crisis, affecting almost 900 million adults worldwide in 2022, four times more than in 1990. If current trends continue, nearly two in three adults will be overweight or obese by 2050.

Obesity increases the risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and premature death. In the UK, over a quarter of adults live with obesity (28.3% of women and 26.9% of men). In Southend-on-Sea, nearly one third of adults live with obesity.

While weight support services exist, many residents struggle to access them or stay engaged.

To better understand these challenges, we spoke with Southend residents about their experiences. While many participants valued the flexibility they already had, with programmes offering multiple times and venues to fit different schedules, some residents felt that short programmes don’t give them enough time to build lasting habits.

“In 12 weeks, you’re not gonna do it, if you're lucky, you might lose a stone in those 12 weeks.”

People living with obesity want longer-term support, more check-ins, and a sense of accountability to keep them going. One resident explained how staying connected to a coach kept them on track. Others highlighted the need for personalised support by considering different stages of life and health conditions.

“If they’d asked more questions about you personally, then maybe given the options that suit… like, you’re a middle-aged disabled woman, these ones would be ideal for you. Or a 50-year-old man who’s active, these would suit you.”

Residents often linked their eating to stress, comfort, or childhood experiences.

“Food has always been a comfort… it’s the one thing that always makes me feel happy. That’s the side I struggle with, not the fitness.”

“[The programme] is great, but it doesn’t deal with the psychological issues. It tells you what to eat, but it doesn’t help with why you overeat. For me, I’d want someone to support me with that.”

Yet participants also described positive moments of learning, saying that understanding food labelling and nutrition had helped them make better choices.

Social aspects of weight-loss support were just as important, with group members providing each other with motivation.

“I didn’t feel uncomfortable or like an outsider… everyone’s in the same boat… it feels really supportive.”

Others mentioned that the friendships and encouragement kept them coming back, with one resident saying they now look out for newcomers in their group to make them feel welcome. Nevertheless, some women highlighted the challenges of mixed-gender spaces.

“When I’ve gone into the gym back in the day, the weights section was full of men, and you just say, oh my God, I’m not going in that bit… you feel embarrassed.”

This highlights the importance of inclusive spaces where everyone feels comfortable, whether through offering women-only sessions, smaller groups, or peer-led support.

Residents also highlighted the inclusive design of existing classes, with chair-based exercises and group walks making sessions accessible and enjoyable for people with long-term health conditions. However, some stressed that advice and guidance should be practical for everyday life and not too expensive.

Many asked for small, usable tools, not just advice, that fit tight budgets and busy lives. Suggested steps include meal planners linked to low-cost supermarkets, adaptable recipes for families and different dietary needs, and easy-to-follow shopping tips.

Low-pressure gym inductions and short demonstration classes (showing simple, seated or low-impact exercises) help people with pain or mobility issues get started safely. Remote options like weekly Zoom check-ins or short recipe videos were also praised because they make support possible for people juggling childcare or shift work.

Cost is a genuine barrier with healthy food and gym memberships often feeling out of reach.

“If I make a nice chicken salad, I spend more on the salad than if I went to a supermarket and bought pizza and chips. Eating healthy can be very expensive.”

Southend’s free weight management programme was therefore highly valued. Nevertheless, clearer self-referral options, and easier access routes would empower more people to start on weight loss. The hardest part is often just getting through the door and trial sessions could help with initial anxiety.

Support services branded as “weight management” or “diet” support were felt as unwelcoming, clinical and even discouraging. Alternative labels like “health improvement,” “lifestyle change,” or “wellbeing”, were suggested to make services feel positive, empowering and inclusive. Visibility mattered too.

“I think it needs to be advertised more widely. I knew nothing about it… people just don’t know that.”

Listening to Southend residents highlights that improving weight support services requires listening to people affected and understanding their day-to-day challenges and emotional journeys.

Change is possible if services adapt to the realities of people’s lives by offering longer-term support, inclusive environments, practical tools, and meaningful social connections.

This research is especially timely, as tackling obesity is a growing priority both locally and nationally. By embedding residents’ insights into local initiatives, we can complement national guidance and align with broader recommendations, such as those from the World Heart Federation on reducing cardiovascular risk.

Southend’s residents have shared their voices. Now it’s up to all of us, whether service providers, healthcare professionals, or community members, to pay attention, get involved, and help create better weight support services that truly work for everyone.

We sincerely thank all participants and supporting services who contributed their time, experiences, and insights to make this work possible.