Howard's Way welcomes European Obesity Day
Obesity specialist Penelope Howard, of the Howard's Way very low calorie diet (VLCD), has welcomed the 2010 European Obesity Day, which took place on 22nd May.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND, May 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Obesity specialist Penelope Howard, of the Howard's Way very low calorie diet (VLCD), has welcomed the 2010 European Obesity Day, which took place on 22nd May. The awareness campaign stemming from European Obesity Day aims to raise the profile of this potentially life-threatening condition.

One of the campaign's central goals is to help the 50 per cent of Europeans who are overweight to shed between five and ten per cent of their body weight. In that way, it hopes to cut obesity rates across 15 countries.

"While the term 'obesity' has become well known in the UK, it is not so well known in other European countries - so, hopefully, this initiative will have Europe-wide benefits," said Penelope.

"Of course, obesity is not a 'one day a year' issue - which is why Howard's Way is addressing this issue 365 days a year, helping hundreds of people each year to lose at least 42 pounds in weight within 12 weeks.

"With at least 20% of the UK's population now being classed as clinically obese and more people dying from weight related diseases than ever before - at GBP2.6bn a year, the cost of obesity-related NHS bills is asking tax payers to dig ever deeper into their pockets in order to cover the cost," Penelope added. "The effect that obesity is having on NHS resources and, in particular, on waiting times - which have begun to rocket as obesity-related illnesses add even more patients to already crowded lists - is increasingly concerning.

"One of the good things about having a European Obesity Day is that it helps to prevent people becoming complacent about this issue," she continued.

"Obesity in the UK is projected to grow by some 10% every decade for the foreseeable future. One approach is to say that this trend is inevitable and so we should merely seek to mitigate the consequences of obesity but, at Howard's Way, our approach is to help obese people take action to counteract their obesity - and live healthier, happier and more active lives."

According to Penelope, the Howard's Way VLCD:
• helps patients lose all the weight they want to lose
• keeps them fit and healthy while they do so
• re-educates them on the properties; values and dangers of foods for their future weight management
• offers free support and guidance for life

"This means that we're making a dent in the nation's obesity figures; we're a viable alternative to bariatric surgery, and we save the NHS money by reducing the demand for obesity-related medication or surgery," she stated.

"Our aim is to teach our patients about nutritional values of food; how to see past misleading advertising on food; how their bodies use different foods, and which foods - such as white sugar - are likely to have an addictive quality about them," Penelope said. "Secondly, we want to keep them nutritionally supported and healthy while they shed their excess weight at the rate of 14 to 21 pounds every four weeks while they are on the programme."

End

About Howard's Way VLCD

Penelope Howard had been researching into very low calorie diets (VLCDs) and weight loss since 1992 and worked with obese patients and a VLCD for some five years before she founded Howard's Way in 1998.

Those enrolling on the Howard's Way VLCD initially agree to an 18 week programme involving regular meetings twice weekly for the first four weeks, then once a week from there on. For the 'Distance Dieter' these meetings are replaced with one-to-one 'support calls' every week. In addition, Howard's Way staff try to speak to those beginning the diet for at least five minutes a day to provide vital 'moral' support.

Howard's Way recognises that the hardest struggle is maintaining lost weight. So, while dieting, all patients are talked through weekly handouts to gain knowledge and understanding on the workings of their body and the effects of eating certain foodstuffs. Additionally, Howard's Way Maintenance support is 'free of charge for life' for all our dieters.

Typically, most patients lose at least three stones (20 kilos) in weight, men often much more, in the first 12 weeks of the diet. Those who choose to carry on with the diet continue to lose about a stone (6.5 kilos) every four weeks.

The Howard's Way VLCD comprises specially formulated foods, in the form of: milk shakes; soups; and fruit bars; containing the full complement of vitamins, minerals, protein and essential fatty acids that an adult requires but restricting the calorific intake, to induce a state of 'mild dietary ketosis' after day three of the diet.

Further information from:
Penelope Howard: + 44 (0)1923 773851 / penny@croxley.demon.co.uk
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR: +44 (0)1727 860405 / bob.little@boblittlepr.com

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