Latest news with #EmmaDavies
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Slimming World manager say groups needed more than ever
A SLIMMING World manager from Carlisle says slimming clubs are needed more than ever despite the growing popularity of weight loss medication. While the arrival of weight loss injections like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have changed the weight management landscape, Emma Davies, who runs groups at Carlisle United's Brunton Park, claims the drugs will 'never replace' weight-loss methods based on lifestyle changes. Emma became a Slimming World member in 2013 after realising she'd avoided having fun in the pool on holiday with her boys because of how she was feeling about her weight. She went on to lose 3-and-a-half stone over the next couple of years and, with hindsight, said she realised that not staying for support had an impact on her weight loss journey and knowing how to sustain her target weight. Sadly, Emma's dad was taken ill and passed away in November 2016 and she stopped going to group to be able to support him, quickly regaining the weight she'd lost. She found the necessary strength to start again in January 2017 and has been at her chosen target weight ever since - and credits that to staying to group. Two members of the Longtown group, Craig Richardson and Ken Forsyth, both joined Slimming World in January 2025. Both men joined for health reasons following close family and friends having heart attacks – they took the wake-up calls seriously. Before and after of Craig (Image: Supplied) Craig said: 'It's incredible to think back to those times looking at me now. Since joining group I've lost 8 stone 6-and-a-half pounds and I love that I've lost weight eating healthy everyday food that my family can enjoy too. I love the home cooking aspect – everything has a freshness and I love batch cooking. "My wife also loves the meals and the fact I now do all the cooking – meals like lasagne and beef curry are firm favourites. I was committed to changing my mindset and being in my group each week has helped me to think about food and my relationship with it differently. READ MORE: Criteria warning to patients as NHS Mounjaro rollout begins "It was tricky at first but now it comes naturally – being prepared is key. I've increased my physical activity too – I now enjoy walking, going to the gym, running, golf and I've even got back into rugby. "My health has improved massively – I have diverticulitis and flare ups have almost stopped; I've reversed my non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and I no longer have social anxiety - all thanks to my healthier diet and lifestyle. The support I've received has helped me to make my healthy new habits part of my daily life.' Before and after of Ken (Image: Supplied) Ken said: 'Being part of the Longtown group has been crucial to my success. Each week, I'd get a boost of motivation, fresh ideas and support from Emma and the other members which helped me to tackle challenges and kept my commitment strong. Having a good friend attend group with me has made it all the easier to stay focused. The accountability of the weekly group is important for me too – you often don't realise how well you're doing until people say so, and with the encouragement of others, I was able to stay on track week after week. "I do all the cooking at home and I love that my family can all enjoy the same family favourites like chicken curry and beef stroganoff. In the past I've rewarded myself with crisps and chocolate for losing weight – these days I reward myself with fresh strawberries and raspberries which in all honesty I enjoy more." Activity has become an important part of Ken's healthier lifestyle too and he now enjoys walking and golf – his knees are feeling the benefit of losing weight too – and he has much more energy to keep on top of the gardening. Emma said: 'While, of course, we know and our members are living proof that lasting weight loss can be achieved without drugs, we also understand that when you're desperate to lose weight, it can be tempting to try something new that promises instant results. "The truth is though there's no magic bullet – losing weight and maintaining that weight loss requires change. "Weight loss drugs need to go hand-in-hand with making changes to your diet, activity and mindset. They're not a replacement for those changes.' Mounjaro is an antidiabetic drug which lowers blood sugar levels and slows down how quickly food is digested. Earlier this week, GPs across England were given the green light to start prescribing Mounjaro for the first time, opening up the treatment to hundreds of thousands more people. About 220,000 people are expected to receive the jabs through the NHS over the next three years. It has raised the prospect that supermarkets could start to see a more pronounced dip in grocery sales. Those on the treatments consume as much as 30 per cent fewer calories, research has found. Weight loss drugs like Mounjaro have been hailed as transformative in some quarters. Estimates suggest around 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight loss drugs, which may have been prescribed through specialist weight loss services or via private prescription. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill health, costing the NHS billions. Yet we now have the science, technology, and knowledge to end the obesity epidemic, if we seize this opportunity."
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study reveals best way to communicate link between alcohol and breast cancer
A new study has revealed the best way to communicate the link between alcohol and breast cancer. The research, undertaken by Oxford Brookes University which has a campus in Swindon, and funded by the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, focused on women aged 40 to 65 in the UK. It found that many women in this group were unaware of the connection between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. Read more: 250-year-old Wiltshire estate launches summer adventure series The study, titled 'Rethinking the message on alcohol and breast cancer with UK women: a Delphi study', was published in the journal Health Promotion International. It involved a three-stage process, which began with a survey of 260 women, followed by seven online focus groups and a collaborative workshop. The study's lead author, Dr Emma Davies, said: "We often think of alcohol as causing liver disease, but there's plenty of research showing that drinking alcohol can lead to seven types of cancer, including breast cancer. "Evidence shows that people who are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer are more supportive of stronger and more effective alcohol policy. "This means that raising awareness isn't just about individual behaviour change, it is about changing how we think about alcohol at all levels of society." The study found that several factors, including cultural norms, mistrust of official messaging, psychological defence mechanisms, and stigma, reduced the effectiveness of health warnings. Fear-based messaging was also found to be counterproductive, as it often led to denial rather than proactive change. Dr Davies said: "It's clear that fear, blame and shame don't work when it comes to raising awareness of the risks associated with drinking alcohol. "Cutting back on alcohol can help to reduce the chance of getting cancer, but can also give us plenty of other benefits, such as better sleep and improved mood." The study concluded that narrative-based framing, using personal stories from peers who have experienced breast cancer, was more effective than stark statistics or scare tactics. Messages were most accepted when framed positively, highlighting how reducing drinking can empower women and protect their health, rather than through guilt or blame. Dr Davies added: "Importantly, we need a clear and evidence-based alcohol policy to reduce risks across the population. Read more: WHSmith shops to be renamed as firm sells up at cut price "We need to understand why people drink and what the emotional and cultural barriers are to giving up or cutting down. "We hope our study will equip policymakers, charities, clinicians, and health communicators with an evidence-based roadmap to reshape prevention campaigns and reduce alcohol-related harms, including breast cancer and other cancer cases." For more information and advice on alcohol and cancer, visit the World Cancer Research Fund's Cancer Prevention Action Week page.
