One year ago, Milton Keynes City Council, in partnership with Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils, launched a new, easier way for people who live or work in the area to access free, personalised support to quit smoking and achieve a healthy weight.
Choose You enables local people to sign up for free expert help – with no need to be referred by a health professional.
Over the past 12 months, more than 3,000 people sought help to quit smoking via the service, with 44% successfully quitting and reducing their risks associated with smoking. According to national data, people are three times as likely to quit smoking if they use professional support.
Meanwhile, 576 residents signed up to lose weight, with more than 40% losing significant weight, demonstrating the positive impact of tailored support.
Choose You offers a range of support including stop smoking programmes, behavioural change, nicotine replacement options, as well as structured healthy weight programmes to help people make gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes. The service also signposts people to additional support, such as mental wellbeing, drugs and alcohol or sexual health services, where needed.
“When we launched Choose You, our goal was to provide residents with practical, accessible support to help them quit smoking and lose weight. In just one year, the service has made a real difference, supporting people to take those first steps towards better health. As we build on this success, we remain committed to ensuring residents continue to have access to high quality, free support to help them make positive, lasting changes and live longer, healthier lives.”
The impact of the service can be seen through the real experiences of people who have taken part.
Amelia lost over 15kg through the healthy weight programme, describing it as “not a diet, but a way of living”. For Amelia she said the key was “Never missing a class. Every week, I learned something new”.
To view Amelia’s story visit: https://chooseyou.co.uk/news/how-amelia-lost-over-15kg-and-found-her-confidence/
David who had smoked for four decades said: “It was nice to have the encouragement and know that you aren’t on your own”. For David what really helped him was the connection, consistency, and compassion he received from the service.
To view David’s story visit: https://chooseyou.co.uk/news/david-smoked-for-four-decades-choose-you-helped-him-stop/
Residents who live or work in Milton Keynes can find out more and self-refer by visiting www.chooseyou.co.uk
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Notes to editors
Choose You is a collaboration between Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes Councils, and their shared Public Health team. Together, we are committed to helping people adopt healthier habits, improve their wellbeing, and achieve their goals to quit smoking or lose weight.