A local mother of two young children is encouraging more people to lose excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this summer following her successful weight loss.

Aimee Nyantore, a refugee from the Congo nearly seven years ago who now lives in Ashton, has lost 21kg (three stone) during the pandemic and says she feels fitter and healthier.

She now weighs 89.1kg (14 stone) thanks to eating smaller portion sizes, having regular mealtimes and walking daily.

Aimee said: “I have no long-term health conditions but I do struggle mentally with the British weather and did during lockdown last year. 

“Last October, I was referred by Action Together to Be Well and Live Active to seek help to lose weight. I weighed 110kg at the time and I now weight 89.1kg.”

Finding herself eating more during lockdown, she added: “I eat more when I’m stressed and this could have been a contributory factor to gaining weight during lockdown. Getting the support from Naila Sharif, Health and Wellbeing Advisor at Be Well, who explained things over the phone made a big difference to my lifestyle. 

“I now eat at regular mealtimes – breakfast at 9am, lunch at 1pm, fruit snack at 3pm and dinner at 6pm. I also eat smaller meal portion sizes, drink more milk – semi-skimmed – and only have a small amount of milk in my tea. I also do a lot more walking during the week taking my children to school, going in to Ashton. I also get out walking around my local area at weekends.

“Before contacting Be Well I didn’t have breakfast as I was too busy seeing to my children.”

Aimee's target weight is 75kg and she is still getting support from Be Well to help her achieve that. She now wants other people to seek help with their weight if they are concerned it is having an effect on their lifestyle.

In Tameside, 71 per cent of adults are now classed as overweight or obese, compared to 62 per cent in England as a whole. This includes an estimated 22,000 patients registered with GPs in Tameside who are recorded as obese.

In addition to local weight management support, there are a variety of NHS endorsed apps which will help people to introduce changes that will help them eat better and get active this summer, including the newly updated NHS Weight Loss Plan app. People can search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support. 

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Population Health, Councillor Eleanor Wills, said: “Well done Aimee on your fantastic weight loss achievement and thank you for sharing your story which I hope inspires many others to take the step in getting weight loss management support.

“In Tameside we already have plans in place to expand on existing weight management services provided by Be Well Tameside (Pennine Care NHS Trust) and Live Active (Active Tameside) helping people to live longer healthier lives with good mental health through better choices and reducing inequalities.”

Anyone looking for help and support can contact Be Well Tameside, part of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. It is for people who live, work or have a GP in Tameside.

You can call 0161 716 2000, email bewelltameside@nhs.net or follow on Facebook and Twitter: @BeWellTameside, or Instagram at bewell_tameside. 

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