Healthy weight

Quick links

• Pregnancy and post partum
• Healthy lifestyle in the 0-5’s
• Healthy lifestyle age 5-18
• Health for teens
• Adults (age 18+)
• Useful resources relating to neurodiversity
• Services

Visit the Healthy Weight – Information for Professionals page for further information on training and interventions available.

If you are interested in being a healthier weight, changes you make should work for you. This means you can keep them going, and they fit with your life. Big changes can be built on small, simple changes to your diet and how much you move.

The information in our getting active and eating well pages can help you make those small changes.

The information below supports people across the ages with information on healthy weight.

Pregnancy and post-partum

Live Well Leicester are accepting pregnant women that are inactive and have long term conditions into our healthy lifestyle service. If you would like to be referred please ask your Midwife or GP.

Being healthy during pregnancy

Tommy’s advises pregnant women to stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, keeping active, managing weight safely, avoiding harmful substances, and using their Healthy Pregnancy tool for tailored support.

Healthy eating during pregnancy

Pregnancy and pre-pregnancy are both good times to think about healthy eating. What you eat now will help your baby to grow and develop healthily, giving them the best start in life. It will also be good for your health. This fact sheet is intended to support those considering pregnancy and those already pregnant with making healthy lifestyle choices.

Eating well during pregnancy and balancing the demands of being pregnant can be challenging. Always speak to your Midwife or GP about changes to your diet and do not try to lose weight during pregnancy. Visit the below sites to learn more.

Have you signed up to get Start for Life emails?

Get access to NHS advice on pregnancy, babies, supporting your toddler’s development and education support. You can sign up on their website.

Healthy Lifestyle in the 0-5’s

A healthy lifestyle involves a balanced diet, lots of movement and good sleep. Doing your best to work towards healthy habits from the very start supports children age 0-5 to grow strong, active and happy. The links below take you to some useful resources.

Supporting your family in leading healthy lives Healthy habits, happy kids What’s a healthy portion for your little one? Toddler mealtimes Healthy recipes Preparing the perfect packed lunch Let’s move more Physical activity guidelines for children under 5 Children’s weight

Healthy Lifestyle age 5-18

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland section of the Health for Kids website includes lots of information moving, eating well for both parents and children. Explore the website via the links below.

For kids:

Moving about Eating healthy Top tips for being healthy Body image Supporting your move from primary to secondary school

For parents:

Your questions answered Keeping fit and healthy with a family lifestyle Healthy snack ideas Why exercise is so important for children?

Talking to your child age 4-11 about weight

A new website has been launched, aimed to support parents and caregivers to talk about weight in a positive way. With top tips such as avoiding blame, focusing on health and not weight, choosing changes together and helping children to feel good about their body. Talking to your child about weight

Health for teens

Love your body, love yourself, #lovehealth. Find tailored information and support services for people living in Leicester including information on understanding your weight.

Understanding your weight Nutrition and diet Food and drink rumours 8 signs that you are eating well Calories: the facts Energy drinks: the facts

Adults (age 18+)

For adults age 18+ there is lots of information available to support healthier choices, but its important to consider what will work for you and how the changes you make fit in with your day-to-day life. Try small changes to start with and seek medical advice if required. Some services may be able to support you.

Useful resources relating to neurodiversity

Helping families who are struggling to try new foods

The below resources can help families with children who are struggling to try new foods.

Loughborough University – Child Feeding Guide helping families with children who are struggling to try new foods

Video on trying new food for children with Autism / ADHD

(YouTube video) approx. 15mins: How to Support Your Child to Try New Foods – Dr Pooky Knightsmith

Autism central

New online resource for parents to help navigate information on autism. The resource section is designed to make this easier for you and signposts to a wide range of topics around autism and support that is available from Autism Central and other sources.

Healthy Living Toolkit – Supporting adults with learning disabilities

Toolkits for people with lived experience of Learning Disability and Autism, family/friends, adult social care, care providers, GP practice staff and other healthcare professionals to support better nutrition, hydration and physical activity.

Services

Family Hubs and HENRY Healthy Families Right from the Start

The Family Hubs (within Children Young People and Family Centres) website contains information, advice and guidance aimed at helping parents, carers, young people and professionals with many aspects of family life.

HENRY Healthy Families Right from the Start programme is part of the Family Hub offer. The programme is perfect for families looking to create a healthier, happier lifestyle together.

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

Adult healthy lifestyles

Weight management services website for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can be found here including quick reference guide and healthcare professional pathway.

Active Leicester providers places for people to take part in sport and physical activity across the city at seven leisure centres and other specialist facilities.

There are over 30 outdoor gyms across Leicester that are free to use, no matter your experience or ability. The equipment is suitable for anyone over 140cm in height.

Explore walk, run, cycle opportunities, find a club or group or see what virtual opportunities are available through Active Together.